JP2001167329A - Method and device for discriminating coin - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mischief preventing means which solves the problem that the rate of reception of genuine coins decreases and discrimination precision is not improved for some kinds of forged coins as to a conventional coin discriminating device for an automatic vending machine which discriminates thrown-in forged coins by improving the discrimination precision of thrown-in coins and extracting and comparing features of forged coins with those of current coins so as to prevent the mischief that the forged coin is thrown in and exchanged into the current coin. SOLUTION: Sensors 1 and 2 detect features of a thrown-in coin to decide the authenticity of the coin and the denomination of the current coin that the coin found to be forged resembles closely; when forged coins which resembles a specific denomination are thrown in successively by a specific number, the acceptance of the coin found to be of the specific denomination is stopped after the final forged coin is thrown in, and the acceptance of coins of the specific denomination is restarted a specific time later, thereby excluding forged coins which are thrown in by mischief.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin identifying method and a coin identifying apparatus for preventing a mischief of inserting a counterfeit coin into a true coin in a vending machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coin discriminating device provided in a vending machine or the like detects a coin inserted from an insertion slot by using a sensor arranged on a coin passage, and detects the characteristics of the coin, and detects a true coin and a false coin. In addition, the genuine money is sorted by denomination and stored, and the counterfeit money is returned from the return passage. Meanwhile, the conventional sensor determines the type of coin by capturing the thickness, material, and the like of the coin on average. For this reason, a fake coin (for example, a copper-based foreign coin) whose thickness, material, and the like are very similar to a regular coin may not be completely eliminated and may be accepted as a regular coin. Further, even if such a counterfeit coin is determined to be a counterfeit coin, it is returned as it is and can be inserted again, so that it may be accepted as a genuine coin while repeatedly inserted. Further, the conventional coin processing device has a structure in which when coins are paid out as change or refunded coins, genuine coins already stored are paid out. By utilizing the features of these conventional coin discriminating devices, mischief occurs in which fake coins very similar to genuine coins are inserted, and prized coins already stored as change coins or refund coins are plundered.

[0003] As a method of countering such mischief, there is a method of increasing the accuracy of discrimination by strictly determining the genuine coin of the coin discriminating apparatus, or a conventional discriminating item such as a comparison of an outer peripheral surface or a concave and convex pattern of a coin. A method of improving the accuracy of the discrimination by adding a non-comparison item was performed.

[0004]

However, simply increasing the identification accuracy of the coin identification device may require that the coin be discriminated as a fake coin even if it is genuine due to scratches, dirt, abrasion, etc. of the coin. , Reduce sales opportunities to customers. In addition, the method of comparing the irregular pattern on the outer peripheral surface and the surface of the coin,
The difference may not be detected depending on the outer peripheral surface or the uneven pattern of the surface of the fake coin compared with the genuine coin, and the difference is not uniformly effective.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sensor is provided in a coin passage on which a coin is rolled, and the coin is rolled by the sensor. A coin identification method for detecting the characteristics of a coin to be performed, and discriminating between true and false of the coin, and a denomination of a genuine coin targeted by the coin regarded as a fake coin. When a predetermined number of counterfeit coins are successively inserted, the reception of coins discriminated as the specific denomination is stopped after the last counterfeit coin is input, so that identification that is unlikely to occur in a general operation situation is performed. By predicting mischief from the continuous input of denomination coins and stopping the acceptance of coins determined to be the specific denomination that is the object of the mischief, the coin is very similar to the genuine coin of the specific denomination and is completely fake. Stop accepting counterfeit coins, such as copper-based foreign coins that cannot be eliminated as coins, causing mischief That damage can be prevented from expanding.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the coin identifying method according to the first aspect, it is possible to accept the coin of the specific denomination again after a predetermined time has elapsed from the insertion of the last counterfeit coin. By doing so, it is possible to allow good customers to use the coins of the specific denomination after the person who performs the mischief leaves, to prevent mischief and not to impair the convenience of the user. it can. Claim 3
According to the invention, a sensor is provided in a coin passage in which the inserted coin rolls, and a characteristic of the coin rolling in the coin passage is detected by the sensor. A coin discriminating device for discriminating a denomination of a genuine coin targeted by said coin, wherein when a predetermined number of fake coins targeted for a specific denomination are continuously inserted, After the introduction,
By providing coin discriminating means for stopping acceptance of coins determined to be the specific denomination, mischief is predicted from continuous insertion of specific denomination coins that are unlikely to occur in a general operation situation, and is a target of the mischief. By halting the acceptance of coins determined to be of the specified denomination, the acceptance of counterfeit coins, such as copper-based foreign coins, which closely resemble genuine coins of the specified denomination and cannot be completely excluded as counterfeit coins, is halted. In addition, the present invention provides a coin identification device such as a vending machine which can prevent the damage caused by mischief from increasing. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the coin identification device according to the third aspect, further, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the insertion of the last counterfeit coin, the coin of the specific denomination can be accepted again. The provision of the identification means enables a good customer to use the coin of the specific denomination after the person who performs the mischief leaves, and prevents mischief and does not impair the convenience of the user. A coin identification device such as a vending machine is provided.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the coin identification device 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sensor arrangement diagram. The first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 are provided on the side wall of the coin passage 4 and, when a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 5 passes in front of the coin passage 4, depending on the material and thickness of the coin. Change its output. The outputs of the first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 are
After processing such as half-wave rectification and smoothing is performed by the respective waveform processing circuits 6 and 7, the signals are input to respective A / D input terminals of the microcomputer 8. FIG. 3 shows a coin identification device 3 of the present invention.
It is a figure explaining the genuine coin judgment method in. In FIG. 3, a curve S1 indicates the output of the first sensor 1 input to the A / D input terminal of the microcomputer 8, and a curve S2 indicates a second output similarly input to the A / D input terminal of the microcomputer 8. 3 shows the output of the sensor 2. The lowest point voltage V1 of the output S1 of the first sensor 1, the lowest point voltage V2 of the output S2 of the second sensor 2, the output S1 of the first sensor, and the second sensor 2
And the voltage V0 at the portion where the output S2 crosses the predetermined ranges A1 and A
2. The authenticity of the coin and the denomination of the coin determined to be genuine are determined based on whether or not the coin is within A0. Based on the outputs of the first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 as described above, the microcomputer 8 averagely captures the material and thickness of the inserted coin and determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin. . As a result, when it is determined that the coin is a genuine coin, the coin sorting mechanism 9 is operated to guide the coin to a receiving passage (not shown) and store the coin. At the same time, it instructs the appropriate signal output unit 10 to output an appropriate signal indicating the denomination of the inserted coin to a main control unit such as a vending machine (not shown). On the other hand, if the voltages V1, V2, V0 output by the inserted coin do not correspond to any of the predetermined ranges A1, A2, A0 set for each denomination, and are determined as counterfeit coins, Output voltages V1, V2, V0 of coins
Selects the denomination corresponding to the predetermined range A1, A2, A0 which is the closest. Further, the denomination is determined as a denomination targeted by the counterfeit coin. The coin determined to be a fake coin is guided to a return passage (not shown) via the coin sorting mechanism 9 and returned.

[0008] Here, if a predetermined number of coins (for example, four) are discriminated as fake coins consecutively and the same denomination is used, the acceptance of coins of the denomination is stopped. Then, all coins determined to be denominated are returned. Then, after stopping the reception of the coin, a predetermined time (for example, 60 minutes)
After the lapse of time, the suspension of acceptance of the coin is released, and the acceptance is resumed. In this way, the mischief of replacing fake coins with genuine coins is prevented, and the convenience of the user is minimized.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing coin processing according to one embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described below for each step. Step 1: It is determined whether or not the output data of the sensor is within the genuine judgment range. Step 2: It is determined which denomination the coin determined to be counterfeit is. Step 3: It is determined whether or not the coin is a fake coin for 500 yen coin. Step 4: It is determined whether or not the timer A which operates while the acceptance of the 500 yen coin is stopped is operating. Step 5: It is determined whether or not the timer B that specifies the time (for example, 3 minutes) for which a fake coin for 500 yen coin is continuously inserted is operating. Step 6: It is determined whether or not a counter C indicating the number of continuously inserted 500 yen coins is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Step 7: Activate the timer A that operates while the acceptance of the 500 yen coin is stopped. Step 8: Clear the count C to clear the continuous number of counterfeit coins for 500 yen coins. Step 9: Return coins determined to be counterfeit coins for 500 yen coins. Step 10: When the first counterfeit coin for a 500-yen coin is inserted, a timer B for stipulating the time during which the 500-yen coin is continuously inserted is started. Step 11: When the coin of Step 10 is inserted,
In order to make this the first coin, the contents of the count C are cleared. Step 12: When fake coins for 500 yen are continuously inserted, the number of inserted coins is accumulated. Step 13: When it is determined that the inserted coin is a genuine coin, the count C indicating the continuous number of coins inserted for 500 yen is cleared. Step 14: Determine whether the coin is a 500 yen coin.
If it is not a 500 yen coin, the flow continues for each denomination. Step 15: It is determined whether or not the timer A indicating that the reception of the 500 yen coin is stopped is operating. If the timer A is operating, the coin is returned. Step 16: The coin is received in the coin storage unit and the process ends. In the embodiment shown in the flowchart, the specific denomination described in claim 1 is set at 500 yen. However, other denominations may be used, or a plurality of denominations may be set. Further, in the present embodiment, the number of sensors for detecting the characteristics of the inserted coin is two, but if it is more than that, the identification accuracy may be further improved. The method of discriminating true and false coins and the method of discriminating denominations to be counterfeit coins can be changed with reference to the method of the present invention in order to improve the discrimination accuracy. Of course, it is good to set.

[0010]

As described above, according to the coin identifying method of the first aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined number of counterfeit coins very similar to a specific denomination (for example, 500 yen coin) are continuously inserted, By stopping the acceptance of coins determined to be the specific denomination after the last counterfeit coin is inserted, foreign coins and the like that closely resemble genuine coins of the specific denomination and cannot be completely excluded as counterfeit coins It is possible to prevent the damage from mischief that stops accepting fake coins and throws in fake coins to replace them with genuine coins.

Further, according to the coin discriminating method according to claim 2, in the coin discriminating method according to claim 1, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the insertion of the last counterfeit coin, the coin of the specific denomination is provided. Can be accepted again, after the mischief person has left, acceptance of coins of a specific denomination is resumed, and mischief can be prevented without impairing the convenience of the user for a long time. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined number of counterfeit coins very similar to a specific denomination are continuously inserted, the coin discriminating apparatus determines the coin as the specific denomination after the last counterfeit coin is input. By stopping the acceptance of coins, the acceptance of false coins such as foreign coins that closely resemble genuine coins of the specified denomination and cannot be completely eliminated as false coins is stopped, and fake coins are input to genuine coins. It is possible to provide a coin identification device that prevents damage from mischief that is to be replaced by the coin from being enlarged.

Further, the coin processing device according to claim 4 is
In the coin identification device according to claim 1, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the insertion of the last counterfeit coin, by allowing the coins of the specific denomination again to be accepted, the person performing the mischief has left Later, it is possible to provide a coin discriminating apparatus that resumes accepting coins of a specific denomination and prevents mischief without impairing the convenience of the user for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a coin identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sensor arrangement diagram of the coin identification device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a genuine coin determining method of the coin identifying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing coin processing of the coin identifying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st sensor 2 ... 2nd sensor 3 ... Coin identification device 4 ... Coin path 6 ... Waveform processing circuit 7 ... Waveform processing circuit 8 ... Microcomputer

Claims (4)

[Claims] A sensor is provided in a coin passage in which the inserted coin rolls, and a characteristic of the coin rolling in the coin passage is detected by the sensor. A coin discrimination method for discriminating a denomination of a genuine coin targeted by the coin, wherein when a predetermined number of counterfeit coins targeted for a specific denomination are continuously inserted, A coin discriminating method characterized by stopping receiving coins determined to be the specific denomination after insertion. 2. The coin discriminating method according to claim 1, further comprising, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last counterfeit coin is inserted, accepting the coin of the specific denomination again. Coin identification method. 3. A sensor is provided in a coin passage in which the inserted coin rolls, and the sensor detects a feature of the coin rolling in the coin passage, and determines whether the coin is true or false and a false coin. A coin discriminating device for discriminating a denomination of a genuine coin targeted by said coin, wherein when a predetermined number of fake coins targeted for a specific denomination are continuously inserted, A coin discriminating device such as a vending machine, comprising: coin discriminating means for stopping accepting a coin discriminated as a specific denomination after being inserted. 4. A coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a coin discriminating means for enabling the coin of the specific denomination to be accepted again after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last counterfeit coin is inserted. A coin discriminating apparatus such as the vending machine provided.