JP2001188933A - Coin discriminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate a coin 2 to be discriminated at a low cost with high precision in simple constitution. SOLUTION: A 1st sensor 71 and a 2nd sensor 72 are arranged across the coin 2 to be detected to detect data regarding the top and reverse surfaces of the coin 2, and on the basis of both the pieces of detection data, the kind and genuiness of the coin 2 are efficiently decided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus for discriminating a denomination and authenticity of a coin inserted into a coin transport path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, vending machines, vending machines, automatic transmissions
2. Description of the Related Art Various devices handling coins, such as M, are equipped with a coin discriminating device for discriminating the denomination and authenticity of coins inserted into a coin transport path. In this coin identification device,
A coin transport path for slidably supporting a coin to be detected is provided, and a coin sensor for identifying a denomination and authenticity of a coin on the coin transport path is provided.
Examples of the coin sensor include those that detect the outer diameter and material of a coin using an eddy current loss type magnetic sensor, those that detect the weight of a coin using a weight sensor, and those that use a CCD or the like. An optical sensor that detects an optical pattern of a coin using an optical sensor is used.

[0003] Detected data on coins obtained from the various coin sensors is compared with a master pattern stored in advance, and based on the comparison result, the denomination and authenticity of the coin to be detected are determined. However, various devices have been proposed for the purpose of detecting and discriminating such coins with a low cost structure and high accuracy.
For example, in the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-245495, a large number of shape sensors are arranged in a row on the bottom of the coin transport path so that all types of coins can be accommodated. To obtain the shape pattern data in the diameter direction of the coin.

[0004]

However, in this conventional apparatus, a large number of shape sensors are required, which inevitably increases the cost. In addition, even coins of the same type have different shapes, for example, years. Due to the presence of a part having a different shape depending on the production year, such as a symbol notation part, there is a high possibility that erroneous recognition will occur particularly in the authenticity determination of coins.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin discriminating apparatus capable of discriminating coins with high accuracy and low cost with a simple configuration.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin discriminating apparatus for conveying a coin to be detected along a guide while supporting a coin to be detected on a sliding surface; A coin sensor provided to detect various data related to coins on the coin transport path, and coin type and authenticity of the coin are identified based on a detection signal from the coin sensor. In the apparatus, the coin sensor includes a first sensor disposed at a position where coin hole data on the coin transport path can be detected;
A second sensor disposed on the opposite side of the first sensor with respect to the coin;
And a sensor, wherein the first sensor constitutes at least a hole sensor for detecting data of a center hole provided in the coin, and the first sensor is configured to detect a coin by one of the first sensor and the second sensor. A material sensor, a diameter sensor, and a shape sensor for detecting a material, an outer diameter, and a surface unevenness are configured.

Further, in the coin identification device according to the second aspect,
The first sensor constituting the hole sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an area corresponding to the inside of the center hole of the 50-yen coin in a direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction, and displays the year of 500 coins. It is arranged in a region corresponding to the inside of the region where the part is rotated.

Further, in the coin identification device according to the third aspect, at least the material sensor among the coin sensors according to the first aspect is a eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor.

Further, in the coin identification device according to the fourth aspect, at least the diameter sensor of the coin sensors according to the first aspect is arranged so as to be biased toward an outer edge in a detectable effective area.

[0010] In the coin identification device according to the fifth aspect,
A denomination of a coin to be detected is temporarily determined based on each output from the hole sensor, the material sensor, and the diameter sensor according to claim 1, and a master pattern relating to the provisionally determined denomination is formed in the shape. There is provided a denomination determining unit for determining the denomination by comparing with the detection data from the sensor.

In the coin discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the denomination of the coin and the trueness of the coin are determined based on the detection data on both sides of the coin obtained by both the first sensor and the second sensor. False is efficiently determined without waste.

In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the second aspect, since the data relating to the center hole of the coin is reliably obtained by the first sensor, the denomination and authenticity of the coin can be discriminated more efficiently. It has become so.

[0013] In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the third aspect, by employing the eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor, data regarding the material of the coin can be obtained well, and the coin denomination and the true coin type can be obtained. False is more efficiently determined.

In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the detection value of the coin having the minimum outer diameter is set to be as small as possible, and the ratio of the detection value of the coin having the maximum outer diameter to the detection value can be increased. The sensitivity is improved so that the coin denomination and the authenticity can be more accurately determined.

[0015] In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the fifth aspect, since the denomination determining section performs a process for determination after the denomination of the coin to be detected is provisionally determined, the coin denomination is performed. Discrimination between denomination and authenticity is performed more efficiently and accurately without waste.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention includes a coin transport path 1 having a shape that is bent into a substantially “C” shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. The coin transport path 1 has a bottom slide plate 1b that supports a coin 2 to be detected, which is sent from a transport entrance 1a at the right end in the figure toward the left side in the figure, and has a bottom slide. The transport belt 3 is disposed immediately above the moving plate 1b. The transport belt 3 is arranged so that one lower belt portion 3a faces substantially parallel to the bottom slide plate 1b with a gap corresponding to the thickness of the coin 2 therebetween. The coin 2 is conveyed toward the left in the figure while holding the coin 2 between the conveyance belt 3 and the bottom surface sliding plate 1b.

Further, on one side of the bottom slide plate 1b,
A guide 4 is erected along the edge of the bottom slide plate 1b, and a coin 2
Is rotatably supported by a pin 5a at a bent portion of the coin transport path 1 by a pin 5a. The coin control lever 5 is configured to press the coin 2 sent while being supported on the bottom slide plate 1b toward the guide 4 by a biasing means such as a spring (not shown). The coins 2 sent out from the portion where the coin regulating lever 5 is disposed toward the downstream side in the transport direction are sequentially transported while keeping the outer peripheral surface portion in contact with the guide 4. I have.

Further, a coin sensor 7 for detecting various data relating to the coin 2 is attached to a downstream portion of the coin transport path 1. This coin sensor 7
The bottom slide plate 1 is, as shown in FIG.
one lower sensor 7 as a first sensor embedded in
1 and one upper sensor 72 as a second sensor arranged on the opposite side of the coin 2 above the lower sensor 71.

The lower sensor 71 is a single sensor buried so as to be located substantially at the center of the coin 2 on the bottom slide plate 1b. The configuration is such that a hole sensor that detects the presence or absence of a hole in the coin 2 to be used, and a material sensor, a diameter sensor, and a shape sensor that respectively detect the material, outer shape, and surface unevenness of the coin 2 are used.

At this time, the lower sensor 71 is
As shown in the figure, in a direction (vertical direction in the drawing) orthogonal to the coin moving direction, the coin is arranged in an area corresponding to the inside of the center hole 2d provided in the 50-yen coin 2c. The arrangement is such that the center hole 2f of the five-yen coin 2e, which is a perforated coin, can also be detected.

Further, the lower sensor 71 is arranged so as to correspond to the center side area 2i other than the area 2h where the year display portion of the 500 yen coin 2g is rotated. That is, in the 500-yen coin 2g, the area 2h in which the year display portion is rotated is larger than the other coins, and the other effective areas are very small. Therefore, as described above, 5
By arranging the lower sensor 71 so as to correspond to the center side area 2i of the 00 yen coin, it is possible to detect the material of all coins.

On the other hand, the upper sensor 72 as a second sensor disposed on the upper side is composed of an upper shape sensor attached to the tip of an arm 4a extending in the width direction from the guide 4. The coin 2 to be detected is disposed at a central portion in the vicinity of the above-described transport belt 3, that is, at a substantially central portion in the width direction of the coin transport path 1 so as to cross a substantially central region of all the coins. The configuration is such that the surface irregularities are detected over a long diameter as much as possible.

As the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72, those having various well-known structures can be employed. For example, an eddy current loss type magnetic sensor as shown in FIG. 5 is used. It is desirable to use.

The magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 5 utilizes a change in magnetic flux, and a pair of detection magnetic pole portions 11 and
Numeral 12 is arranged so as to move relatively while facing the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 having the uneven shape. I have. Further, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions 1
An excitation coil 17 is wound around the auxiliary magnetic pole portion 16 disposed between the first and second magnetic poles 1 and 12, and a predetermined magnetic flux φ1, When φ2 is formed, their respective magnetic flux φ1,
The detection signal corresponding to φ2 is detected by the detection coils 14 and 15 described above.
Is output from each.

At this time, the identification surface 2a of the coin 2
An eddy current is generated based on the magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2 described above,
These eddy currents act to limit the magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2. The eddy currents are generated by the size of the facing gap between the identification surface 2a, which is the surface of the coin 2, and the magnetic pole portions 11 and 12 for detection. It corresponds to. That is, when the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 is a flat surface, the detection magnetic pole portions 11 and 12 are used.
Both have the same opposing gap as the discrimination surface 2a, so that the amount of restriction of the magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2 due to the eddy current described above is also the same, and output signals of the same magnitude are output from the detection coils 14 and 15. can get. Therefore, in this case, the differential output by the two detection coils 14 and 15 is maintained at 0.

On the other hand, when the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 has changed into an uneven shape, when the coin 2 is relatively moved, the detection magnetic pole portions 11, 12 correspond to the uneven shape of the identification surface 2a.
The dimension of the gap facing the discrimination surface 2a changes so as to continuously decrease and expand, and the eddy current generated in the discrimination surface 2a changes with the change in the amount of the gap. More specifically, the detection magnetic pole portion 11 preceding the right side in FIG.
, The gap facing the detection magnetic pole portion 11 is narrowed, and the eddy current increases, and the output from the detection coil 14 is reduced accordingly. On the other hand, in the detection magnetic pole portion 12 on the left side of the drawing, since the gap facing the identification surface 2a is wide, the eddy current is small and the detection coil 15 has a large output. As a result, the two detection coils 14, 1
5 is increased, and an output waveform including a convex portion A as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.
The presence of the convex portion 2b on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 is detected.

The magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 7 includes a pair of detection magnetic pole portions 22 facing the coin 2 and a direction opposite to the detection magnetic pole portions 22. It has a pair of reference magnetic pole portions 23, 23 that protrude.

The detection magnetic pole section 22 and the reference magnetic pole section 2
Numeral 3 denotes an integral core body formed in a substantially π-shape in a plane, and is excited so as to straddle both the base portions 22a and 23a of the detection magnetic pole portion 22 and the reference magnetic pole portion 23. The coil 24 is wound in common. An excitation signal having a constant sine waveform is always supplied from the AC power supply 31 shown in FIG. 7 to the excitation coil 24, and the magnetic fluxes φ2 and φ1 corresponding to the excitation signal are supplied to the detection magnetic poles. This is formed on the portion 22 and the reference magnetic pole portion 23, respectively. Detection coils 25 and 26 are wound around the bases 22a and 23a of the detection magnetic pole section 22 and the reference magnetic pole section 23, respectively.

At this time, the detection magnetic pole portion 22 is disposed so as to face the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 via the detection gap S1, and the coin 2 is moved in parallel in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Then, according to the uneven shape such as the pattern formed on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2, the uneven shape portion 2b
Also, the gap size of the detection gap S1 with respect to the identification surface 2a including the above changes. On the other hand, an eddy current is generated on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 due to the influence of the magnetic flux φ2 generated in the detection magnetic pole portion 22, and the magnitude of the eddy current is
It increases or decreases according to the above-described change in the gap size of the detection gap S1 when the identification surface 2a including b passes.

That is, when the detecting magnetic pole portion 22 faces the convex portion 2b of the coin 2, the detecting gap portion S
Since the gap size of No. 1 is reduced, the above-mentioned eddy current value is increased and the magnetic flux φ2 is reduced, and the output from the detection coil 25 is correspondingly reduced. Conversely, when the detection magnetic pole portion 22 faces the concave portion of the coin 2 and the gap size of the detection gap portion S1 increases, the above-mentioned eddy current value decreases.
Increases, and the output from the detection coil 25 increases accordingly. As described above, the output from the detection coil 25 provided in the detection magnetic pole section 22 changes in a manner completely corresponding to the uneven shape such as the pattern on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2.

On the other hand, the reference magnetic pole portion 23 has a constant gap size with respect to the reference detection surface 27a of the reference metal body 27 formed and arranged separately from the coin 2 as the detected metal body. They are arranged to face each other via the held reference gap S2. More specifically, the reference metal body 27 is attached to the core side so as to have a fixed relationship with the reference magnetic pole part 23, and the reference detection body provided on the reference metal body 27 is provided. The surface 27a is formed as a flat surface. As a result, as described above,
Even when the coin 21 relatively translates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the gap size of the reference gap S2 is kept constant. At this time, as the material of the reference metal body 27, a material having substantially the same specific resistance as the coin 2 is selected, and specifically, a metal body such as copper and white copper is selected for a 500 yen coin.

Thus, regardless of the movement of the coin 2, the reference gap S2 in the reference magnetic pole portion 23 is always kept constant. The eddy current generated in 27 is also in a constant state. Therefore, the magnetic flux φ1 in the reference magnetic pole portion 23 is always maintained in a constant state,
The output from the detection coil 26 on the side of the reference magnetic pole section 23 is also always kept constant.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the output from the detection coil 25 on the detection magnetic pole section 22 side and the output from the detection coil 26 on the reference magnetic pole section 23 side are respectively described above. The differential amplifier 36 is configured to be input to the differential amplifier 36 through the detectors 32 and 33 and the low-pass filters 34 and 35 and to obtain a differential output from the differential amplifier 36.

In the magnetic sensor having such a configuration,
Since the detection magnetic pole portion 22 relatively moves along the uneven shape on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 as the metal object to be detected, the detection output of the detection magnetic pole portion 22 depends on the uneven shape of the identification surface 2a. fluctuate. On the other hand, since the reference magnetic pole portion 23 maintains a substantially constant facing relationship with the reference surface 27a different from the identification surface 2a, the reference magnetic pole portion 23 has a constant detection output state. Therefore, the variation of the detection output in the detection magnetic pole section 22 is faithfully extracted from the above-described differential amplifier 36, and the uneven shape on the identification surface 2a of the coin 2 as shown in FIG. Is accurately obtained.

As shown in FIG. 10, the detection circuit of the above-described magnetic sensor includes a detector 32 and a low-pass filter 34 with respect to the subsequent stage of the differential amplifier 36.
Although not shown in the drawings, a detector is arranged on the front side of the differential amplifier, and a low-pass filter is arranged on the rear side of the differential amplifier. be able to. Furthermore, as long as it constitutes a detection circuit, other than the one that detects a differential as in the above-described embodiment, the same can be adopted.
Each of these circuit configurations can be similarly configured by a digital circuit using an A / D converter.

Next, the coin discriminating apparatus according to the present embodiment determines the denomination and authenticity of the coin 2 in the coin transport path 1 using the two vertical sensors 71 and 72 as described above. The content of the discrimination program provided in the denomination determination unit will be described. The discriminating program provided in the denomination judging unit is schematically shown in FIG.
The basic flow as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in the figure, by executing a scanning operation for a coin to be detected (step 1), a coin discriminating flow is started. The hole of the detected coin is determined (step 2). Then, whether or not the detected coin is a perforated coin is identified by this hole discrimination. The next material determination (step 3) is also performed by the same lower sensor 71, and the material of the detected coin is identified by the material determination. Further, the next diameter determination (step 4) is also performed by the lower sensor 71, and the outer diameter of the detected coin is identified.

The denomination of the coin to be detected is provisionally determined based on the hole data, material data and outer diameter data of the detected coin thus obtained (step 5). Based on the data, the above-described vertical sensor 7
The unevenness is determined by detecting the surface unevenness by the first and the second 72 (step 6), and the final denomination is determined based on the result of the unevenness determination (step 7).

In the hole discrimination flow among them, FIG.
As shown in (1), first, based on the signal data obtained from the lower sensor 71, the output level Vh at a portion corresponding to the hole position of the detected coin is checked (step 1). The preset level V
If it exceeds h0 (Yes in step 2), it is determined that the coin has a hole (step 3), and the output level V is determined.
If h does not exceed the preset level Vh0 (No in step 2), it is determined that the coin has no hole (step 4).

Next, in the above-described flow for each material, FIG.
As shown in (1), the output level Vm at the outer peripheral portion of the detected coin is checked based on the signal data similarly obtained from the lower sensor 71 (step 1), and the output level Vm is set to a predetermined level. If it exceeds Vm0 (Yes in step 2), it is determined to be a white copper coin (step 3). If the output level Vm does not exceed the preset level Vm0 (No in step 2). ), It is determined that the coin is other than white copper (step 4).

As the detection data when the material is "copper", for example, signals as shown in Table 1 below are obtained from the lower sensor 71.

[Table 1]

On the other hand, the above-described diameter discrimination flow is performed by using the lower sensor 71 provided on the bottom slide plate 1b side of the coin transport path 1, and as shown in FIG. A value Vd obtained by measuring a distance between output peaks generated corresponding to the leading edge and the trailing edge of the coin to be detected is checked (step 1), and the distance value Vd is set to a predetermined value of 500.
If it exceeds the level Vd0 corresponding to a yen coin (Yes in step 2), it is determined to be a 500 yen coin (step 3), and if it is smaller than it and exceeds the level Vd1 corresponding to a 10 yen coin. (Step 4 Ye
s) It is determined that the coin is a 10-yen coin (step 5). In the same manner, the above-described detection values Vd are sequentially compared like the level Vd2 corresponding to a 100-yen coin, the level Vd3 corresponding to a 5-yen coin, and the level Vd4 corresponding to a 50-yen coin ( (Steps 6, 7 and 8), and at that time, the coin is identified as the coin (steps 9, 10).
And 11). If it is small enough to fall under none of them (No in step 8), it is identified as a one-yen coin (step 12).

Next, as shown in FIG. 17, in the flow of the provisional determination of the denomination, first, the above-described material discrimination flow is executed (step 1). No), the process proceeds to the diameter discrimination flow described above, and whether or not the coin is a 10-yen coin is identified (step 2). If the outer diameter is equivalent to a 10-yen coin, it is provisionally determined to be a 10-yen coin (step 3). If the outer diameter is not equivalent to a 10-yen coin, other than a normal coin is used. Is discriminated as having been inserted (step 4).

In the above-described material discrimination flow (step 1), when it is determined that the material is copper (Yes in step 1), the process proceeds to the above-described hole discrimination flow (step 5). (Step 5 Ye
s) In the following diameter discrimination flow, it is determined whether or not the coin is a 50-yen coin or a 5-yen coin (steps 6 and 7), thereby tentatively determining a 50-yen coin and a 5-yen coin (steps 8 and 9). ). Further, in the hole discrimination flow described above (step 5), when it is determined that there is no hole (No in step 5), in the next diameter discrimination flow, whether the coin is a 500 yen coin, a 100 yen coin, or a 1 yen coin is determined. Or not (steps 10, 11, 12), whereby 500
A provisional decision is made for yen coins, 100 yen coins and 1 yen coins (steps 13, 14, 15).

When the flow of provisionally determining the coin denomination to be detected is completed, the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72 detect the surface unevenness based on the data of the provisionally determined denomination. To perform the unevenness determination flow. In the unevenness determination flow, as shown in FIG. 18, first, cutout parameters corresponding to the provisionally determined denomination are set (step 1). For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the cut-out parameter sets a scan line SL through which the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72 pass for each provisionally determined denomination. A large number of scanning lines SL are set along the rotation direction at equal intervals, for example, at a pitch of about 5 °.

Referring back to FIG. 18, based on the cut-out parameters set as described above, the data on the surface irregularities of the coin detected by the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72 is replaced with master pattern data set in advance. A pattern matching operation to be compared is executed (steps 2 and 3), and the similarities r1 and r for the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72, respectively.
2 is calculated.

That is, the pattern matching operation of the uneven surface of the coin to be detected is performed by the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72.
However, which part of the data is to be evaluated for each signal pattern is determined by the cutout parameter for each denomination according to the installation position of the sensor.

Examples of signal patterns from both the upper and lower sensors 71 and 72 are shown in Tables 2, 3 and 4 below.

[Table 2]

[Table 3]

[Table 4]

The signals shown in Table 2 above are examples of data in the case of a coin having a small outer peripheral edge height, and the signals shown in Table 3 are those of a coin having a large outer peripheral edge height. The signal shown in Table 4 is an example of data in the case of a coin having a large outer periphery and a wide coin.

First, from the signal data of the lower sensor 71, an evaluation site defined by the provisionally determined denomination is extracted in accordance with the cut-out parameters, and the extracted detection data is prepared in advance for each denomination. The obtained pattern is compared with the master pattern corresponding to the lower sensor 71, and the similarity between the two patterns is obtained.
1 (step 2).

Next, from the signal data of the upper sensor 72,
An evaluation site defined by the provisionally determined denomination is extracted in accordance with the above-described cutout parameters, and the extracted detection data and an upper sensor 7 prepared in advance for each denomination are extracted.
The master pattern is compared with the master pattern for No. 2 and the similarity between the two is obtained based on the pattern matching, and the obtained similarity is set as r2 (step 3).

In the above-described pattern matching operation, as shown in FIG. 20, the data of the extracted signal pattern is treated as a vector F (step 1). At this time, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a total of N signal pattern aggregates obtained for different scanning lines SL at a fixed angle. If the angle pitch of each scanning line SL is 5 degrees, there are 72 master patterns. become.

Then, first, the first master pattern T1
Is selected (step 2), and the vector F is collated (step 3). As a measure of similarity at that time,
Correlation values can be used. That is, the similarity is rl
Then, r1 = (F · T1) / | F | · | T1 | At this time, (F · T1) represents a scalar product of F and T1, and || represents a norm of the vector.

Next, the master pattern T2 is selected (steps 4 and 5), collation is performed (step 3), and a correlation value T2 is obtained. This operation is repeated N times (step 6), and the largest one of the N correlation values obtained thereby is defined as r. If the value of r is greater than a predetermined value r0, The coin under evaluation is determined to match the provisionally determined denomination, and this is determined as an official denomination.

That is, the individual sensors 71 and 7 described above
When the similarities r1 and r2 relating to No. 2 are obtained, the processing shifts to a denomination determination process as shown in FIG.
Is greater than the threshold value r10 (step 1), or if the similarity r2 is greater than the threshold value r20 (step 2), the provisionally determined denomination is accepted and determined (step 3). If not, the provisionally determined denomination is rejected (step 4). In case of rejection, the denomination is unspecified.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the first
The denomination and authenticity of the coin 2 can be efficiently obtained based on data on the front and back surfaces of the coin 2 obtained by both the lower sensor 71 and the upper sensor 72 constituting the sensor and the second sensor. It has become.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the data relating to the center hole of the perforated coin is reliably obtained by the lower sensor 71 as the first sensor, the denomination and authenticity of the coin to be detected are further increased. It can be obtained efficiently.

In addition, in the present embodiment, data on the material of the coin 2 is obtained by employing the eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor, and the denomination and authenticity of the coin to be detected are more efficient. Is obtained.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the denomination determination unit performs a tentative process after tentatively determining the denomination of the coin to be detected, the discrimination of the denomination and authenticity of the coin to be detected is performed. Is performed efficiently and accurately.

On the other hand, the coin sensor 7 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 comprises lower sensors 71, 73, 74 as three first sensors embedded in the bottom slide plate 1b,
An upper sensor 72 as one second sensor disposed on the opposite side of the coin 2 above the lower sensors 71, 73, 74. The lower sensor 71 provided so as to be located substantially at the center of the coin 2 on the bottom slide plate 1b constitutes a hole / material sensor. Further, a lower sensor 73 disposed so as to correspond to an inner portion close to the guide 4 side of both edge portions of the coin 2 on the bottom slide plate 1b.
Constitutes a shape sensor, and coin 2
The lower sensor 74 provided so as to be located at the outer side portion on the opposite side of the both edge portions constitutes a diameter sensor.

As shown in FIG. 12, the lower sensor 71 arranged at the center of these is provided on the 50-yen coin 2c in a direction perpendicular to the coin moving direction (vertical direction in the figure). The center hole 2d is arranged in a region corresponding to the inside of the center hole 2d, so that the center hole 2f of the five-yen coin 2e, which is another perforated coin, can be detected.

Further, the lower sensor 71 is arranged so as to correspond to the center area 2i other than the area 2h where the year display portion of the 500 yen coin 2g is rotated. That is, in the 500-yen coin 2g, the area 2h in which the year display portion is rotated is larger than the other coins, and the other effective areas are very small. Therefore, as described above, 5
By arranging the lower sensor 71 so as to correspond to the center side area 2i of the 00 yen coin, it is possible to detect the material of all coins.

The above-mentioned lower sensor 73 (see FIG. 4) is arranged so as to correspond to the outer area 2k of the area 2j in which the year display portion of the 50 yen coin 2c is rotated.
That is, by arranging the lower sensor 73 so that the surface irregularity shape of the 50-yen coin 2c having the smallest effective area other than the area in which the year display is rotated can be detected, the surface of all coins can be detected. The configuration is such that the uneven shape can be detected.

Similarly, the lower sensor 74 (see FIG. 4) disposed on the outer side of the coin transport path 1 also corresponds to the outer area 2k other than the area 2j where the year display portion of the 50 yen coin 2c is rotated. It is arranged to be. That is, by arranging the lower sensor 74 so that the outer diameter of the 50-yen coin 2c having the smallest effective area other than the area in which the year display portion is rotated can be detected, the outside of all coins can be detected. The configuration is such that the diameter can be detected. However, in the case of the lower sensor 74, it is arranged so as to be biased outward as much as possible within the effective area 2k, whereby the detection value of the 50-yen coin 2c having the minimum outer diameter is made as small as possible, 2g of 500 yen coin with outer diameter
The detection sensitivity can be improved by increasing the ratio with respect to the detection value.

The upper sensor 72 as a second sensor disposed above the coin 2 to be detected is located at the central portion in the vicinity of the transport belt 3, that is, substantially at the center of the coin transport path 1 in the width direction. It is arranged in such a manner that the surface unevenness of the coin 2 to be detected is detected over as long a diameter as possible so as to cross the substantially central region of all the coins.

In such an embodiment as well, the denomination determination processing is performed based on the discrimination program provided in the denomination determination unit. First, the above-described center lower sensor 71 determines the hole of the detected coin. , And material discrimination, and discriminates whether or not the detected coin is a perforated coin by hole discrimination, and identifies the material of the detected coin by material discrimination. Further, the diameter determination is performed by another lower sensor 74, thereby identifying the outer diameter of the detected coin.

Then, the denomination of the coin to be detected is provisionally determined based on the hole data, material data and outer diameter data of the detected coin thus obtained, and based on the data of the provisionally determined denomination. Then, the surface irregularities are detected by the above-described lower sensors 71 and 73 to determine the irregularities, and the final denomination is determined based on the result of the irregularities determination. According to such an embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention made by the inventor have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say. For example, of the coin sensors provided in the above-described embodiment, those that are not required as identification information need not be provided.

In the above-described embodiment, the first sensor and the second sensor are vertically arranged. However, if the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged so as to sandwich a coin, the arrangement is not limited to the up-down arrangement. Arrangement relationship.

[0070]

As described above, the coin discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has both the first sensor and the second sensor on both sides of the coin to be detected, so that both sides of the coin can be detected. Data is detected, and the coin denomination and authenticity are efficiently discriminated based on both the detected data. Therefore, with a simple configuration, coin identification can be performed with high accuracy and low cost. Can be done with

In addition, in the coin identification device according to the second aspect, since the first sensor is configured to surely obtain data on the center hole of the perforated coin, the denomination and authenticity of the coin are determined. Can be determined more efficiently,
The effects described above can be further enhanced.

In addition, the coin discriminating apparatus according to the third aspect employs a magnetic sensor of an eddy current loss detection type so as to obtain data on the material of the coin. The species and authenticity can be determined more efficiently, and the above-described effects can be further enhanced.

In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the detected value of the coin having the smallest outer diameter is set to be as small as possible, and the ratio of the detected value to the coin having the largest outer diameter can be increased. Since the sensitivity is improved, the denomination and authenticity of the coin can be more accurately determined, and the above-described effect can be further enhanced.

In addition, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the fifth aspect, since the denomination of the coin to be detected is determined after the denomination of the coin to be detected is temporarily determined, the denomination of the coin and the authenticity of the coin are determined. The determination can be performed more efficiently and accurately, and the above-described effect can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing an example of a coin transport path provided in a coin identification device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the coin transport path shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a coin sensor arrangement portion of the coin conveyance path shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a coin sensor arrangement portion of the coin transport path.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing an enlarged main part structure of an example of a magnetic sensor used as a coin sensor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a differential output by the magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory side view showing an enlarged main part structure of an improved example of a magnetic sensor used as a coin sensor.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detection circuit attached to the magnetic sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a differential output by the magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a detection circuit attached to the magnetic sensor.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view illustrating a positional relationship between a coin transport path and various coins according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view showing a positional relationship between a coin transport path and various coins according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a basic identification procedure in a denomination determining unit.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of hole discrimination in a denomination discriminating unit.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of material determination in a denomination determining unit.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a diameter determination in a denomination determination unit.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a denomination determination in the denomination determination unit.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a concave / convex shape determination in the denomination determination unit.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory plan view showing an example of setting of scanning lines for unevenness shape determination in the denomination determining unit.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of pattern matching in the unevenness shape determination of the denomination determining unit.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a denomination determination process in a denomination determination unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 coin transport path 1b bottom slide plate 2 coin 2c 50 yen coin 2e 5 yen coin 2g 500 yen coin 4 guide 7 coin sensor 71 lower sensor as first sensor 72 upper sensor as second sensor scanning line SL

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F069 AA39 AA66 BB40 CC07 DD27 GG06 GG58 GG59 HH30 JJ13 NN00 NN04 NN08 PP07 PP10 3E002 AA01 AA04 AA05 AA13 BC02 BC06 CA01 CA06 CA13 EA01 EA03 EA05

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A coin transport path for transporting a coin to be detected along a guide while supporting the coin to be detected on a sliding surface, and a coin sensor provided to detect various data relating to coins on the coin transport path. A coin identification device configured to identify a denomination and authenticity of a coin based on a detection signal from the coin sensor, wherein the coin sensor is capable of detecting hole data of a coin in the coin transport path. And a second sensor disposed on the opposite side of the coin with respect to the first sensor, wherein the first sensor includes at least data of a central hole provided in the coin. And a material sensor for detecting the material, outer diameter, and surface irregularity of the coin by one of the first sensor and the second sensor. And coin discriminating apparatus characterized by the shape sensor is configured. 2. A first sensor constituting the hole sensor is an area corresponding to the inside of a center hole of a 50-yen coin in a direction orthogonal to a coin transport direction, and displays an era name of 500 coins. 2. The coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coin discriminating apparatus is arranged in an area corresponding to the inside of the area where the part is rotated. 3. The coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the material sensor of the coin sensors is an eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor. 4. The coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a diameter sensor of the coin sensors is arranged so as to be biased toward an outer edge in a detectable effective area. 5. A coin denomination to be detected is temporarily determined based on each output from the hole sensor, the material sensor, and the diameter sensor, and a master pattern relating to the provisionally determined denomination is defined in the shape. 2. The coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a denomination determining unit configured to determine a denomination by comparing the detected denomination with a detection data from a sensor.