JP2002197504A - Coin discriminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate a forged coin which is close in external diameter, quality, and weight from a genuine coin regardless of the angle of a thrown-in coin in its circumferential direction. SOLUTION: A magnetic detection sensor 10a which is arranged in a coin conveyance path is composed of a united core body having a couple of detecting magnetic pole parts 12, which face pearl patterns 7 of a coin 11, and a couple of reference magnetic pole parts 13, which project to the opposite side from the detecting magnetic pole parts 12, formed in a plane nearly π type shape; and an exciting coin 14 is wound around both the base parts 12a and 13a of the detection magnetic pole parts 12 and reference magnetic pole parts 13 and detection coils 15 and 16 are wound around the base parts 12a and 13a, respectively. A reference metal 17 is arranged opposite to the reference detection surfaces 17a of the reference magnetic pole parts 13 at specific intervals and a waveform corresponding to the pearl patterns 7 of the coin 11 is outputted. According to the output signal, the coin 11 is discriminated.

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
Various devices that handle coins (coins) such as M
A coin identification device for identifying the denomination and authenticity of a coin to be inserted is provided. Conventional coin identification devices include various sensors such as an eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor that detects the outer diameter and material of the coin and a weight sensor that detects the weight of the coin, and the outer diameter of the coin detected by these sensors is provided. It is configured to discriminate the denomination and authenticity of the coin based on the size and material or weight.

Further, a coin discriminating apparatus has been developed which captures an image of the coin surface with a CCD camera and performs pattern recognition.

[0004]

However, in a conventional coin discriminating apparatus for detecting the outside diameter, material, or weight of a coin to discriminate the denomination and authenticity of the coin, the conventional coin discriminating apparatus imitates the outside diameter, the material, and the weight. There is a problem that false coins are mistaken for genuine coins. Also, in a coin identification device that performs pattern recognition on the surface of a coin, when performing pattern recognition of a captured image image, an arbitrary angle (indicated by θ in FIG. 11) in the circumferential direction of a coin inserted into the device. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that processing for coin identification is complicated and takes time.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a coin discriminating device which can discriminate a genuine coin from a genuine coin even if the coin is imitated in outer diameter, material or weight, irrespective of the angle of the coin to be inserted in the circumferential direction. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a coin discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a coin conveying path for conveying a coin to be detected along a guide while supporting the coin to be detected on a sliding surface; A magnetic type detection sensor arranged on the coin transport path and detecting a pearl pattern of the coin, and identification means for identifying a coin based on an output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor, the magnetic type detection sensor is provided in the pearl pattern of the coin. A pair of detection magnetic pole portions facing the concave and convex shape, and a pair of reference magnetic pole portions projecting to the opposite side to the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are formed of an integral core body formed in a substantially π-shaped plane. The excitation coil is wound so as to straddle both the bases of the detection magnetic pole portion and the reference magnetic pole portion, and the detection coils are wound around the respective base portions of the detection magnetic pole portion and the reference magnetic pole portion. And the reference magnetic pole Reference metal body is disposed at a predetermined gap to face the irradiation detection surface.

Therefore, when the detecting magnetic pole portion relatively moves with respect to the uneven shape of the pearl pattern of the coin, the detection output at the detecting magnetic pole portion fluctuates according to the uneven shape of the pearl pattern. On the other hand, since the reference magnetic pole portion maintains a substantially constant facing arrangement relationship with the reference metal body, it has a constant detection output state. Therefore, the fluctuation of the detection output in the detection magnetic pole portion is faithfully extracted,
The detection output along the uneven shape of the pearl pattern can be faithfully obtained. Based on the output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor, information on the presence or absence of a pearl pattern, the size of the pearl such as the width and height of the pearl, and the interval between the pearls is obtained, and it matches the pearl pattern of the genuine coin It is possible to determine whether or not the inserted coin is a genuine coin by checking whether the coin is inserted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the coin discriminating apparatus of the first aspect, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where a pearl pattern is formed and parallel to the moving direction of the coin. Are arranged side by side. Therefore, the magnetic flux formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes due to the relative movement between the detection magnetic pole portions and the pearl pattern of the coin, and a detection output corresponding to the shape of the pearl pattern can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the coin discriminating apparatus of the first aspect, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to the moving direction of the coin. They are arranged side by side. Also in this case, the magnetic flux formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole parts by the excitation signal changes due to the relative movement between the detection magnetic pole part and the pearl pattern of the coin, and a detection output corresponding to the shape of the pearl pattern can be obtained. it can.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin conveying path for conveying a coin to be detected along a guide while supporting the coin on a sliding surface; and a pearl pattern of coins arranged on the coin conveying path. A magnetic type detection sensor for detecting, and identification means for identifying a coin based on an output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor, wherein the magnetic type detection sensor comprises a pair of detection magnetic pole portions opposed to the uneven shape in the pearl pattern of the coin. And an auxiliary magnetic pole portion formed between the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are formed as an integral core body. A detection coil is wound around each of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions, and the auxiliary magnetic pole portion is excited. The coil is wound.

Therefore, the magnetic flux formed on each of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes due to the relative movement between the pair of detection magnetic pole portions and the pearl pattern of the coin. By taking the difference between the changes in the magnetic fluxes formed on the pair of detection magnetic poles, and analyzing the output waveform, the presence or absence of the pearl pattern, the size of the pearl such as the width and height of the pearl, and the distance between the pearls By obtaining information such as the intervals of the coins, it is possible to determine whether or not the inserted coin is a genuine coin by checking whether or not the coin coincides with the pearl pattern of the genuine coin.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the coin discriminating apparatus of the fourth aspect, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and parallel to the moving direction of the coin. Are arranged side by side. Therefore, the magnetic flux respectively formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes by the relative movement between the detection magnetic pole portion and the pearl pattern of the coin, and the difference of the change of each magnetic flux is calculated to obtain the pearl pattern. A detection output according to the shape can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the coin discriminating apparatus of the fourth aspect, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to the moving direction of the coin. They are arranged side by side. Also in this case, the magnetic flux formed on each of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes by the relative movement between the detection magnetic pole portion and the pearl pattern of the coin, and the difference between the changes of each magnetic flux is obtained. A detection output corresponding to the shape of the pattern can be obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the coin identification device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the magnetic type detection sensor detects a pearl pattern formed on both front and back surfaces of the coin. And detects the pearl pattern of the coin. Therefore, coins having a pearl pattern on only one of the front and back surfaces can be easily distinguished from coins having a pearl pattern on both front and back surfaces.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the magnetic type detection sensors are provided at a plurality of positions, and a plurality of pearl patterns on the same surface of the coin are provided. It detects it at a location. Therefore, even if some magnetic type detection sensors fail to detect the pearl pattern due to scratches or abrasion on the front or back side of the coin, another magnetic type detection sensor can supplement the detection and increase the redundancy of identification. it can.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the coin identification device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a magnetic detection sensor and an optical sensor are combined. Therefore, an optical sensor that has an advantage that the detection distance from the object to be detected is long but is weak to dust, and an eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor that has the advantage that it is not affected by dust but has a weak detection distance By using in combination with each other, mutual weaknesses can be compensated for and the reliability of the coin identification device can be increased.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 and FIG. 12 show an embodiment of a coin identifying apparatus according to the present invention. This coin identification device detects a coin transport path 1 that transports a coin 11 to be detected along a guide 4 while supporting the coin 11 on a sliding surface, and a pearl pattern 7 to 7 of the coin 11 arranged in the coin transport path 1. And a discriminating means for identifying the coin 11 based on an output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor 10a. The magnetic type detection sensor 10a faces the uneven shape of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 of the coin 11 Pair of detection magnetic pole portions 12
And a pair of reference magnetic pole portions 13, 13 projecting to the opposite side to the pair of detection magnetic pole portions 12, 12 are formed as an integral core body formed in a substantially π-shaped plane. 12
The excitation coil 14 is wound so as to straddle both the bases 12a and 13a of the detection magnetic pole portion 13 and the detection coil 15 is mounted on the bases 12a and 13a of the detection magnetic pole portion 12 and the reference magnetic pole portion 13. , 16 are wound around each other, and a reference metal body 17 is arranged at a predetermined gap to face the reference detection surface 17a of the reference magnetic pole portions 13, 13.

The pearl patterns 7 to 7 are, for example, convex portions 7 (in this specification, as seen on both sides of a 500 yen coin).
Called Pearl 7. ) Are arranged at regular intervals so as to form a circumference. In this embodiment,
An example in which a 500-yen coin is targeted as the coin 11 to be detected by the coin identification device will be described.

The pearl patterns 7 to 7 in which pearls 7 are arranged at regular intervals constitute irregularities. The magnetic detection sensor 10a is
It functions as an unevenness detection sensor 10 that detects unevenness due to the pearl patterns 7 to 7. The presence or absence of the pearl 7 can be confirmed by detecting the unevenness. Further, by detecting the shape of the irregularities, for example, the size of the pearl 7 such as the width and height of the pearl 7 and the interval (pitch) between the pearls 7
Etc. can be checked to see if they are predetermined. Thus, it is possible to identify whether or not the coin 11 inserted into the coin identification device is a 500 yen coin.

In the present embodiment, for example, the magnetic detection sensor 10a substantially corresponds to the end of the diameter of the circle formed by the pearl patterns 7 to 7 which is orthogonal to the coin moving direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure. Placed in the position. The arrangement of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions 12, 12 is a pearl pattern 7-7.
Are arranged side by side so as to be parallel to the coin movement direction A (see FIG. 1). It is to be noted that such parallel includes not only strict parallel but also almost parallel. Accordingly, the magnetic detection sensor 10a is arranged at a position facing the pearl 7, and can detect the irregularities of the pearls 7 arranged at regular intervals as the coin 11 moves. That is, in the magnetic detection sensor 10a of the present embodiment, a plurality of (for example, four to five in this embodiment) pearls 7 passing through the magnetic detection sensor 10a are detected.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show an example of the configuration of the magnetic detection sensor 10a. The magnetic type detection sensor 10a includes pearl patterns 7 to 7 formed on a coin 11 as a detected metal body.
And a pair of reference magnetic pole portions 13 protruding toward the opposite side to the detection magnetic pole portions 12.

The detection magnetic pole portion 12 and the reference magnetic pole portion 1
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 12a and 13a of the detection magnetic pole portion 12 and the reference magnetic pole portion 13. The coil 14 is commonly wound. The excitation coil 14 is always supplied from the AC power supply 21 shown in FIG.
An excitation signal having a constant sine waveform is supplied, and magnetic fluxes φ2 and φ1 corresponding to the excitation signal are formed on the detection magnetic pole portion 12 and the reference magnetic pole portion 13, respectively. The detection coils 15 and 1 are provided on the bases 12a and 13a of the detection magnetic pole section 12 and the reference magnetic pole section 13, respectively.
6 are wound respectively.

At this time, the detecting magnetic pole portion 12 is disposed so as to face the pearl patterns 7 to 7 via the detecting gap S1, and the coin 11 has moved in parallel in the coin moving direction A. Sometimes, the gap size of the detection gap S1 also changes according to the uneven shapes of the pearl patterns 7 to 7. On the other hand, an eddy current is generated in the coin 11 due to the influence of the magnetic flux φ2 generated in the detection magnetic pole portion 12, and the magnitude of the eddy current increases or decreases according to the above-described change in the gap size of the detection gap S1.

That is, when the detecting magnetic pole portion 12 faces the pearl 7 of the coin 11, the gap size of the detecting gap portion S1 becomes small, so that the eddy current value increases and the magnetic flux φ2 becomes large. The detection coil 15
Output also decreases. Conversely, the detecting magnetic pole 1
2 faces the concave portion between the pearls 7 and 7, when the gap size of the detection gap S1 increases, the above-mentioned eddy current value decreases. Therefore, the magnetic flux φ2 increases, and the detection amount correspondingly increases. The output from the coil 15 also increases. As described above, the detection coil 1 provided in the detection magnetic pole portion 12 is provided.
The output from 5 changes so as to completely correspond to the uneven shape of the pearl patterns 7 to 7.

On the other hand, the reference magnetic pole portion 13 has a constant gap size with respect to the reference detection surface 17a of the reference metal body 17 formed and arranged separately from the coin 11 as the metal body to be detected. Are arranged so as to face each other via the reference gap S2. More specifically, the reference metal body 17
Is mounted on the core side so as to have a fixed relationship with the reference magnetic pole portion 13, and the reference detection surface 17 a provided on the reference metal body 17 is formed in a flat surface shape. As a result, as described above, even when the coin 11 relatively translates in the coin movement direction A, the gap size of the reference gap S2 is kept constant. As a material of the reference metal body 17 at this time, a material having a specific resistance almost equal to that of the coin 11, specifically, a metal body such as copper and white copper is selected for a 500 yen coin. Note that the detection magnetic pole portion 12 and the reference magnetic pole portion 13 can be arranged in contact with the coin 11 and the reference metal body 17.

Thus, regardless of the movement of the coin 11, the reference gap S2 in the reference magnetic pole portion 13 is always kept constant. Is also constant. Therefore, the magnetic flux φ1 in the reference magnetic pole section 13 is always kept constant, and the output from the detection coil 16 on the reference magnetic pole section 13 side is also always kept constant.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the output from the detection coil 15 on the detection magnetic pole section 12 side and the output from the detection coil 16 on the reference magnetic pole section 13 side are supplied to a differential amplifier 26. It is configured to be input and to obtain a differential output through the detector 22 and the low-pass filter 24. As a result, the variation of the detection output in the detection magnetic pole section 12 is faithfully extracted from the differential amplifier 26, and, for example, as shown in FIG.
7, an output having a waveform shape that accurately corresponds to the uneven shape in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an output waveform when a 500-yen coin passes through the magnetic detection sensor 10a. The waveform indicated by the arrow W in the figure indicates the waveform due to the pearl patterns 7 to 7. Hereinafter, each wave W is called a pearl pulse W. The large waves before and after the pearl pulse W are caused by the edge of a 500 yen coin. The identification means for identifying the coin 11 includes:
From the pearl pulse W, for example, a feature point of a 500 yen coin is obtained as follows.

As the first characteristic point, for example, pearl height information Vp is obtained. The pearl height information Vp is obtained from, for example, V1 and V0 in FIG.

## EQU1 ## For example, pearl width information tp is obtained as a second feature point. The pearl width information tp is, for example, t2, t1 in the figure.
Equation 2 is used to determine the value.

Tp = t2-t1 For example, pearl interval information tw is obtained as a third feature point. The pearl interval information tw is, for example, t4 in the figure.
It is obtained from t3 by Expression 3.

Tw = t4−t3

The pearl height information Vp and pearl width information t
The p and pearl interval information tw are measured for all pearl pulses W. The measured value of the genuine coin is recorded in a database in advance, for example. Then, by comparing the measured pearl height information Vp, pearl width information tp, and pearl interval information tw with the measured value of the genuine coin on the database, which has been measured in advance, the inserted coin 11 is 500 yen. It can be determined whether or not the coin is a coin. Also, the number of pearl pulses W can be counted and compared with the number of pearl pulses W in the case of a true coin to determine the authenticity.

As described above, by analyzing the output waveform of the magnetic type detection sensor 10a, for example, the number of pearls 7 passing through the magnetic type detection sensor 10a, the size such as the width and height of the pearls 7, the pearls 7 Information such as the interval (pitch) between the patterns 7 to 7 can be obtained.

The pitch P2 of the detecting magnetic pole portions 12, 12 shown in FIG. 13 is not particularly limited, but is preferably smaller than the pitch P1 of the pearls 7, 7 in order to increase the resolution. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pitch P2 may be larger than the pitch P1,
Further, the pitch P2 may be equal to the pitch P1.

Here, for example, an unevenness detecting sensor 10 for detecting the unevenness of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 is provided on both the front and back sides so that the pearl patterns 7 to 7 formed on the front and back sides of the coin 11 can be simultaneously detected. It is preferable to arrange them. Thereby, a foreign coin (for example, a 500 won coin) having a pearl pattern 7 to 7 on only one side can be easily distinguished from a 500 yen coin.

More preferably, the unevenness detecting sensor 10 is provided at a plurality of locations so that the pearl patterns 7 to 7 on the same surface can be simultaneously detected at the plurality of locations. Thus, even if some of the unevenness detection sensors 10 fail to identify the coin 11 due to, for example, scratches or abrasion on the surface of the coin 11, the other unevenness detection sensors 10 can supplement the identification and increase the identification redundancy. Can be.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, for example, in a circle formed by the pearl patterns 7 to 7, the positions are substantially corresponding to both ends of the diameter of the circle orthogonal to the coin moving direction A. Two unevenness detecting sensors 10, 10 are arranged, and two unevenness detecting sensors 10, 10 are arranged at positions facing each other with a coin 11 therebetween, so that a total of four unevenness detecting sensors 10,..., 10 are arranged. I have to. However, the number of the unevenness detecting sensors 10 is not limited to this.

The unevenness detecting sensor 10 in the case where a plurality of unevennesses are provided is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the unevenness constituted by the continuous pearls 7. The use of a detection sensor or, for example, an optical sensor is simple and preferred.
Here, the optical sensor is susceptible to dust, but has a long detection distance from the object to be detected. On the other hand, the magnetic detection sensor is not affected by dust, but has a weak point that the detection distance is short. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, a combination of a magnetic detection sensor and an optical sensor is used as the unevenness detection sensor 10 to compensate for mutual weaknesses. Thereby, a more reliable coin identification device can be configured. For example, in the present embodiment, the magnetic detection sensor 10
a, 10b and optical sensors 10c, 10d.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the optical sensor 10c. The same applies to the configuration of the optical sensor 10d.
This optical sensor 10c is used to detect the object, that is, the pearl pattern 7
The output changes in accordance with the distance to. The optical sensor 10c operates as follows, for example. That is, when the laser light 32 is emitted from the semiconductor laser 31 by the drive circuit 30, the laser light 32 is condensed through the light projecting lens 33 and irradiates the detection target, that is, the pearl patterns 7 to 7. A part of the light beam reflected from the pearl patterns 7 to 7 forms a spot on the light position detecting element 35 through the light receiving lens 34. When the distance to the object to be detected changes due to the unevenness of the pearl patterns 7 to 7, the spot also moves. Therefore, the position of the spot is detected through the optical position detection element 35 and the signal amplification circuit 36, so that the distance to the object to be detected is increased. That is, irregularities of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 can be detected. By analyzing the output waveform, as in the case of the magnetic detection sensor 10a, for example, the number of pearls 7 that have passed through the optical sensor 10c, the size such as the width and height of the pearls 7, the pearl pattern 7
Information such as an interval (pitch) of ~ 7 can be obtained.

The coin discriminating apparatus according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a coin transport path 1 having a shape bent in a substantially "C" shape as shown in FIG. The coin transport path 1 has a bottom slide plate 1b for supporting a coin 11 to be detected, which is sent from a transport entrance 1a on the right end side 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.

On one side of the bottom slide plate 1b, a guide 4 is provided upright along the edge of the bottom slide plate 1b, and a coin 11 is placed on the guide 4. A coin regulating lever 5 to be pressed is rotatably supported by a pin 5a at a bent portion of the coin transport path 1. The coin regulating lever 5 is configured to press the coin 11 sent while being supported on the bottom surface sliding plate 1b toward the guide 4 by a biasing means such as a spring (not shown). Coins 11 sent out from the portion where the lever 5 is arranged toward the downstream side in the transport direction
Are transported sequentially while maintaining the outer peripheral surface portion in contact with the guide 4.

In the downstream portion of the coin transport path 1,
The above-described magnetic detection sensors 10a and 10b and optical sensors 10c and 10d are arranged. The coins 11 are shifted in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure along the guide 4 and conveyed, so that the coins 25 are optically small coins 25, such as 1, 50, 5, 100, and 10 yen. Type sensors 10c, 10d
Since there is no output of the coin, it can be easily distinguished from a 500 yen coin. That is, a simple outer diameter sensor can be configured by the magnetic detection sensors 10a and 10b and the optical sensors 10c and 10d (see FIG. 6). Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the magnetic detection sensors 10a and 10b and the optical sensors 10c and 10d are referred to as the unevenness detection sensor 10 unless particularly distinguished.

According to the coin identification device constructed as described above, when the coin 11 is inserted into the device, the number of pearls 7 passing through the unevenness detecting sensor 10, the width of the pearl 7, Information on the pearl patterns 7 to 7 such as the height and the interval (pitch) between the pearls 7 can be obtained. Therefore, the discriminating means for identifying the coin 11 is based on whether the coin 11 inserted into the coin discriminating apparatus has the pearl patterns 7 to 7, furthermore, has the pearl patterns 7 to 7 on both front and back surfaces, and furthermore, the width and height of the pearl 7. By checking whether the interval (pitch) between the pearls 7 and 7 matches that of a genuine 500 yen coin, it can be determined whether or not the inserted coin 11 is a 500 yen coin. Therefore, even if a counterfeit coin 11 imitating the outer diameter, material, and weight of a 500 yen coin is inserted into the apparatus, this can be eliminated. Also, pearl pattern 7 on only one side like 500 won coin
Even if a foreign coin having no ７7 is inserted into the apparatus, it can be removed separately from the 500 yen coin.

Further, since the pearl patterns 7 to 7 in which the pearls 7 are arranged at regular intervals are constant irrespective of the circumferential angle of the coin 11 to be inserted, the coin discriminating apparatus uses the circumferential angle of the coin 11. There is no need to consider. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5B, even if the coin 11 rotates and is conveyed in an oblique state, the coin 11 is conveyed in a straight state.
It can be identified as in (A). The broken line S indicates the position of the unevenness detection sensor 10. Therefore, the process for identifying the coin 11 is much simpler and faster than when the image pattern of the coin 11 is recognized.

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, the configuration of the magnetic detection sensor 10a is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, but may be, for example, a magnetic detection sensor 10a 'shown in FIG. In this magnetic detection sensor 10a ', a pair of detection magnetic pole portions 41 and 42 are arranged so as to move relatively while facing the pearl patterns 7 to 7.
The detection coils 44 and 45 are wound around the reference numerals 1 and 42, respectively. The pair of detection magnetic pole portions 41 and 42 are
The coins are arranged at positions where the pearl patterns 7 to 7 are formed, and are arranged in parallel with the coin moving direction A. In addition,
Such parallelism includes not only strict parallelism but also almost parallelism. Further, the auxiliary magnetic pole part 4 arranged between the pair of detection magnetic pole parts 41 and 42 is provided.
6, an exciting coil 47 is wound. When predetermined magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2 are formed in the detecting magnetic pole portions 41 and 42 by energizing the exciting coil 47, the magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2 Are detected by the detection coils 44, 4
5, respectively. Also in the case of the magnetic detection sensor 10a ', it is possible to obtain the unevenness information of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 by taking the difference between the magnetic flux φ1 and the magnetic flux φ2. The output waveform obtained from the magnetic detection sensor 10a 'is different from the output waveform shown in FIG. 2 obtained by the magnetic detection sensor 10a in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. As shown, the waveform does not correspond to the uneven shape. However, by analyzing the output waveform, it is possible to obtain information such as the presence or absence of the pearl 7, the size of the pearl 7, such as the height and the width, and the interval between the pearls 7, 7. This magnetic detection sensor 10a '
In the case of (1), there is an advantage that the sensor structure can be simplified because the reference metal body 17 is not required.

Here, each detection magnetic pole portion 4 shown in FIG.
It is preferable that the pitch P2 between the first and second auxiliary magnetic pole portions 46 be smaller than the pitch P1 between the pearls 7 and 7 in order to increase the resolution. In some cases, the pitch P
2 may be larger than the pitch P1. However, the pitch P2 is not set equal to the pitch P1. When the pitch P2 is equal to the pitch P1, for example,
Since the opposing gaps in both the preceding detection magnetic pole portion 41 and the following detection magnetic pole portion 42 on the left side in the figure are always maintained at the same size, both detection coils 4
This is because 4,45 differential outputs cannot be obtained, and as a result, the differential outputs are always at the 0 level, and there is a possibility that the uneven shape cannot be detected at all.

In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions 12, 12 is parallel to the coin moving direction A, and the detection magnetic pole portions 12, 12 are all pearl patterns 7 to 7. 7 (see FIG. 1), but the arrangement of the magnetic detection sensor 10a is not limited to this. For example, from the state of FIG.
As shown in (B), the magnetic detection sensor 10a may be turned 90 degrees and arranged side by side so that the line connecting the pair of detection magnetic pole parts 12, 12 is orthogonal to the coin movement direction A. . Note that such orthogonality includes not only strict orthogonality but also that which is almost orthogonal. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, the pearl 7 is arranged so that the magnetic flux φ2 formed by the detection magnetic pole portions 12, 12 passes. Even with such an arrangement, the output waveform corresponding to the unevenness of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 can be changed.
a, and by analyzing the output waveform, for example, the number of pearls 7 that have passed the magnetic detection sensor 10a,
Information such as the size of the pearl 7 such as the width and height and the interval (pitch) between the pearl patterns 7 to 7 can be obtained.

The magnetic detection sensor 10 shown in FIG.
Similarly, a 'may be arranged by turning the magnetic detection sensor 10a' by 90 degrees and arranging so that the line connecting the detection magnetic pole portions 41 and 42 is orthogonal to the coin movement direction A. Note that such orthogonality includes not only strict orthogonality but also that which is almost orthogonal. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG.
One of the magnetic fluxes φ1 and φ2 formed by the magnetic pole 42 and the auxiliary magnetic pole portion 46 is disposed so that the pearl 7 passes therethrough, and the other magnetic flux φ1 or φ2 is placed on the flat surface of the coin 11 or a flat surface outside the coin 11. Face to face. Also in this case, it is possible to obtain the unevenness information of the pearl patterns 7 to 7 by taking the difference between the magnetic flux φ1 and the magnetic flux φ2.

The circuit configuration of the coin discriminating apparatus is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and the detection circuit may be constituted by a digital circuit using an A / D converter.

The unevenness detecting sensor 10 is not limited to being arranged on both sides of the coin 11, but may be arranged on at least one of the sides. Even in this case, for example, information on the interval between the pearls 7 and the size of the pearls 7 is obtained from the output of the unevenness detection sensor 10 and it is checked whether or not the information matches the true 500 yen coin. Foreign coins having pearl patterns 7 to 7 like coins can be distinguished from 500 yen coins.

In the above-described embodiment, the magnetic detection sensors 10a, 10a,
10b and optical sensors 10c and 10d are used in combination to compensate for each other's weaknesses, but only the magnetic detection sensors 10a and 10b are used,
Needless to say, one using only c and 10d or another using the unevenness detection sensor 10 may be used.

In the above embodiment, the pearl patterns 7 to 7 are detected by moving the coin 11.
It is also possible to configure so that 1 is stopped and the unevenness detection sensor 10 side is moved. In this case, the unevenness detection sensor 10 may be moved linearly as in the above-described embodiment, or the unevenness detection sensor 10 may be moved along the circumference of the pearl patterns 7 to 7.

Further, the coin transport path 1 is not limited to the one using the coin regulating lever 5 shown in FIG. 8, and for example, the coin transport is performed such that the coin 11 moves along the guide path along the guide 4 by its own weight. The road 1 may be configured. In this case, when the coin 11 passes through the unevenness detection sensor 10 while rotating, an analysis is performed in consideration of the rotation in the output waveform obtained from the unevenness detection sensor 10 to obtain information on the pearl patterns 7 to 7. .

For example, in the above embodiment, 5
The present invention is applied to a detection target of a 00-yen coin. However, the present invention is not limited to a 500-yen coin, but may be applied to a wide variety of detected objects having pearl patterns 7 to 7, such as coins or medals having pearl patterns 7 to 7. The present invention can be similarly applied to this.

The pearl patterns 7 to 7 as seen on the front and back sides of a 500-yen coin are preferable features that can identify the coin 11 irrespective of the angle of the coin 11 in the circumferential direction.
For example, the shape and pattern according to the pearl patterns 7 to 7 may be detected by the detection sensor 10. For example, similar to the case where the pearl patterns 7 to 7 are detected by detecting the annular uneven shapes formed at regular intervals formed on the front surface or the back surface of the coin 11 by the detection sensor 10,
The coin can be identified.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, in the coin identification device according to the first aspect, the magnetic detection sensor detects a pearl pattern formed on the coin. By checking whether or not there is a pearl pattern and whether or not the size and interval of the pearl match those of the coin to be detected, the coin inserted into the apparatus can be identified. Therefore, even if a forged coin imitating the outer diameter, material, and weight of a genuine coin is inserted into the apparatus, this can be eliminated. Furthermore, since the pearl pattern in which pearls are arranged at regular intervals is constant regardless of the circumferential angle of a coin to be inserted, it is not necessary to consider the circumferential angle of the coin in the coin identification device of the present invention. In comparison with the case where image pattern recognition of coins is performed, processing for coin identification is much simpler and faster.

Further, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the second aspect, the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged side by side so as to be at the position where the pearl pattern is formed and parallel to the moving direction of the coin. The magnetic flux formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes due to relative movement between the detection magnetic pole portions and the pearl pattern of the coin, and a detection output corresponding to the shape of the pearl pattern can be obtained.

Also, in the case where the pair of detecting magnetic pole portions are arranged side by side at a position where a pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to the moving direction of the coin, as in the coin discriminating device according to the third aspect of the present invention, The magnetic flux formed on the pair of magnetic pole portions for detection by the signal changes due to the relative movement between the magnetic pole portion for detection and the pearl pattern of the coin, and a detection output corresponding to the shape of the pearl pattern can be obtained.

According to the coin identification device of the fourth aspect,
The magnetic flux formed on each of the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal changes due to the relative movement between the pair of detection magnetic pole portions and the pearl pattern of the coin. An output waveform corresponding to the pearl pattern can be obtained by calculating the difference between the changes in the magnetic fluxes formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole portions. The output waveform in this case is different from that of the coin discriminating apparatus of the first aspect, and does not have a waveform shape that accurately corresponds to the uneven shape of the pearl pattern. However, the presence or absence of the pearl pattern, and the size and interval of the pearl pattern, etc. It is possible to obtain information by waveform analysis. Further, there is an advantage that the sensor structure can be simplified since the reference metal body is not required.

Further, in the coin identification device according to the fifth aspect,
Since the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged side by side so as to be in the position where the pearl pattern is formed and parallel to the moving direction of the coin, they are respectively formed on the pair of detection magnetic pole portions by the excitation signal. The magnetic flux changes due to the relative movement between the magnetic pole portion for detection and the pearl pattern of the coin, and a detection output corresponding to the shape of the pearl pattern can be obtained by taking the difference between the changes of the magnetic flux.

In the case where the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to the moving direction of the coin, the pearl structure may be used. A detection output corresponding to the shape of the pattern can be obtained.

Further, in the coin identification device according to the present invention, the magnetic type detection sensor is arranged to detect a pearl pattern formed on both front and back surfaces of the coin, so that the magnetic type detection sensor is provided only on one of the front and back surfaces. Coins without pearl pattern (for example, 5
A coin having a pearl pattern on both front and back sides (for example, a 500-yen coin) can be easily identified.

Further, in the coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention, the magnetic type detection sensors are provided at a plurality of positions, and the pearl pattern on the same surface of the coin is detected at the plurality of positions. Even if some of the magnetic type detection sensors fail to discriminate coins due to scratches or wear on the coin, another magnetic type detection sensor can supplement the coins, thereby increasing the redundancy of the discrimination.

Further, the coin discriminating device according to the ninth aspect has the advantage that it is not affected by dust but has the advantage that the detection distance from the object to be detected is long and the magnetic detection sensor has a weak point where the detection distance is short. Is constructed in combination with an optical sensor that has a weak point that is sensitive to dust,
The reliability of the coin identification device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a coin identification device of the present invention, in which an eddy current loss detection type magnetic sensor is applied as a magnetic type detection sensor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a differential output by the magnetic detection sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detection circuit that processes an output signal from the magnetic detection sensor illustrated in FIG.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of the arrangement of the unevenness detection sensor provided in the coin identification device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a schematic front view, and FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view.

5A and 5B are schematic plan views illustrating an example of a state in which coins move along a coin conveyance path along a guide, where FIG. 5A illustrates a state in which coins are conveyed in a straight state, and FIG. The state of being conveyed in the state of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a state in which a 500-yen coin and a coin smaller in diameter than the 500-yen coin move along a coin transport path along a guide, and (A) is a schematic front view showing the position of an unevenness detection sensor; (B) shows a schematic plan view.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing an example of a configuration of an optical sensor.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a coin transport path provided in the coin identification device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing another example of the configuration of the magnetic detection sensor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a differential output by the magnetic detection sensor shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of coins inserted into the coin discriminating apparatus, where (A) shows a state in which the coin is straight and (B)
Indicates a state in which the coin is rotated by an angle θ in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example of an output waveform when a 500-yen coin passes through a magnetic detection sensor. The vertical axis V indicates the output voltage and the horizontal axis t indicates time.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a magnetic sensor for explaining a comparison between a pearl pitch and a detection magnetic pole portion pitch.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing another example of the configuration of the magnetic detection sensor.

FIG. 15 shows another example of the arrangement of the magnetic detection sensor;
(A) shows a schematic front view and (B) shows a schematic side view.

FIG. 16 shows an example of another arrangement of the magnetic detection sensor,
(A) shows a schematic front view and (B) shows a schematic plan view.

FIG. 17 shows another example of the arrangement of the magnetic detection sensor;
(A) shows a schematic front view and (B) shows a schematic plan view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin conveyance path 4 Guide 7 Pearl, convex part 10a Magnetic detection sensor 10c Optical sensor 11 Coin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Eikichi Ariga 10801, Haramura, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture 2 Inside the Suwa Minami Plant of Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Junichi Chujo 10801, 2-1 Haramura, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture (72) Inventor: Tomoyuki Sasaki 1-3-1, Shimoteno, Himeji-shi, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Glory Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Naoki Tomigaki 1-3-1 Glory Industries Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F063 AA13 AA14 AA49 BA30 BB05 BC06 BD17 DA01 DA05 GA08 3E002 AA04 AA06 BC02 BC06 BD05 CA06 DA04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A coin conveyance path for conveying a coin to be detected along a guide while supporting the coin to be detected on a sliding surface; a magnetic detection sensor arranged on the coin conveyance path for detecting a pearl pattern of the coin; Identification means for identifying the coin based on an output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor, wherein the magnetic type detection sensor comprises: a pair of detection magnetic pole portions opposing an uneven shape in a pearl pattern of the coin; A pair of reference magnetic pole portions projecting to the opposite side to the detection magnetic pole portion
An excitation coil is wound over both bases of the detection magnetic pole portion and the reference magnetic pole portion, and is formed of an integral core body formed in a mold shape, and the detection magnetic pole portion and the reference A detection coil is wound around each base of the reference magnetic pole part, and a reference metal body is arranged with a predetermined gap opposed to the reference detection surface of the reference magnetic pole part. Characterized coin identification device. 2. The pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged side by side so as to be at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and parallel to a moving direction of the coin. Coin identification device. 3. The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to a moving direction of the coin. Coin identification device. 4. 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, a magnetic detection sensor disposed on the coin transport path and detecting a pearl pattern of the coin, Identification means for identifying the coin based on an output signal from the magnetic type detection sensor, wherein the magnetic type detection sensor comprises: a pair of detection magnetic pole portions opposing an uneven shape in a pearl pattern of the coin; The auxiliary magnetic pole portion formed between the detecting magnetic pole portions is formed as an integral core body, a detecting coil is wound around the pair of detecting magnetic pole portions, and an exciting coil is mounted on the auxiliary magnetic pole portion. A coin identification device characterized by being wound. 5. The pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged side by side so as to be at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and parallel to a moving direction of the coin. Coin identification device. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pair of detection magnetic pole portions are arranged at a position where the pearl pattern is formed and perpendicular to a moving direction of the coin. Coin identification device. 7. The magnetic detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic detection sensor is arranged to detect a pearl pattern formed on both sides of the coin, and detects the pearl pattern of the coin. The coin identification device according to any one of the above. 8. The coin identification device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic detection sensor is provided at a plurality of locations, and detects the pearl pattern on the same surface of the coin at a plurality of locations. apparatus. 9. A coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic detecting sensor and an optical sensor are combined.