JP2010020628A - Apparatus for inspecting appearance of disk-shaped object - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for inspecting the appearance of a disk-shaped object that is capable of imaging the entire outside diameter surface of a disk-shaped object. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus has a first imaging means 31, disposed along one side of a disk-shaped object C along its thickness direction, which object moves along a conveyance path 12, and a conical reflecting surface 35a disposed on the opposite side of the disk-shaped object C along its thickness direction for reflecting an image of the outside diameter surface Cb of the disk-shaped object C toward the first imaging means 31. The first imaging means 31 images a one-side surface Ca of the disk-shaped object C and the outside diameter surface Cb reflected by the conical reflecting surface 35a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a disk-like object appearance inspection apparatus for inspecting the appearance of a disk-like object.

Some disk-shaped objects such as coins, medals, and blank coins have patterns formed on one surface in the thickness direction, the opposite surface, and the outer diameter surface. And as a device for inspecting the appearance of, for example, coins among such disk-like objects, a line sensor or an area sensor is arranged on one side in the thickness direction of the coins moving along the transport path, This sensor picks up an image of one surface in the thickness direction of the coin and a part of the outer diameter surface reflected by the plane mirror (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2), and moves along the transport path The area CCD is arranged outside the coin in the radial direction, the plane mirror is arranged on one side and the opposite side of the coin in the thickness direction, and the one side and the opposite side in the thickness direction reflected by the plane mirror And a part of the outer diameter surface are imaged with an area CCD (for example, see Patent Document 3).
JP-A-10-11629 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-319915 JP-A-10-222716

  In any of the above-described apparatuses, although a part of the outer diameter surface of the coin can be imaged, the entire outer diameter surface cannot be imaged.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a disk-like object appearance inspection apparatus that can improve inspection accuracy by imaging the entire outer diameter surface of a disk-like object.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is the first imaging means disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object moving along the transport path, and the disk-shaped object. A conical reflection surface that is disposed on the opposite side of the thickness direction and reflects an image of the outer diameter surface of the disk-shaped object toward the first imaging unit, and the first imaging unit includes: The one-side surface of the disk-shaped object and the outer diameter surface reflected by the conical reflecting surface are imaged.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the conical reflecting surface is formed on a ring mirror, and a space inside the ring mirror is provided on the opposite side of the disk-shaped object. And a second imaging means for imaging the opposite surface of the disk-like object.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an optical axis of the conical reflecting surface is coincident with an optical axis of the first imaging means, and the circle is included in the transport path. Guide means for guiding the plate-like object and passing the center of the disk-like object on the optical axis is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the transport path moves the disk-shaped object by its own weight by an inclination.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first imaging means arranged on one side in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object that moves along the transport path includes the surface on this one side of the disk-shaped object. The outer diameter surface reflected by the conical reflecting surface disposed on the opposite side in the thickness direction of the disk-like object is imaged. Therefore, the entire outer diameter surface can be imaged and inspected together with the surface on one side in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object, and the phase relationship between the one side surface in the thickness direction and the outer diameter surface is also inspected. can do. Therefore, a more accurate appearance inspection can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the conical reflecting surface is formed on the ring mirror, and the space inside the ring mirror is formed by the second imaging means arranged on the opposite side in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object. The opposite side surface of the disk-shaped object is imaged through. Therefore, it is possible to image and inspect the surface on the one side in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object, the entire outer diameter surface, and the surface on the opposite side of the thickness direction. Each phase relationship between the entire radial surface and the surface opposite to the thickness direction can also be inspected. Therefore, it is possible to perform an appearance inspection with higher accuracy.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the guide means of the transport path guides the disk-shaped object and passes the center thereof on the optical axis that coincides with the conical reflection surface and the first imaging means. The outer diameter surface of the disk-like object can be imaged satisfactorily.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the transport path moves the disk-like object by its own weight due to the inclination, it is possible to prevent or suppress the reduction of the effective imaging data by the first imaging unit.

  A coin discriminating apparatus which is an embodiment of a disk-like object appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The coin identification device of this embodiment is incorporated in a coin processing machine such as a coin depositing machine or a coin depositing / dispensing machine. Although not shown in the figure, the coin processing machine separates and conveys individual pieces of coins that are input from the outside of the machine into the deposit port by denomination mixing, classifies them into denominations, and stores them. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the coin identifying device 11 includes a transport path 12 that transports coins (disk-like objects) C one by one at intervals.

  This conveyance path 12 moves coins by its own weight by inclination, and the conveyance path is inclined so that the upper surface 15a is flat and the width direction is kept horizontal and the lower the conveyance direction the lower the position. 15 and a pair of guides (guide means) 16 and 16 extending along the conveyance direction on both sides of the upper surface 15a of the conveyance path 15 in the width direction. The coin C moves on the upper surface 15a of the conveyance path 15 with an inclination while the lower surface Ca contacts the upper surface 15a of the conveyance path 15 and the outer diameter surface Cb is guided by the pair of guides 16 and 16. The pair of guides 16 and 16 are provided so as to be slidable in the width direction of the transport path 15 by a slide guide 17 shown in FIG. 4, and the interval between them is variable.

  An upstream side identification sensor 18 shown in FIG. 3 is provided on the upstream side of the pair of guides 16 and 16 in the transport path 15 for identifying the denomination of the coin C transported in the transport path 15. The upstream identification sensor 18 includes, for example, a diameter sensor composed of a line sensor that detects the diameter of the coin C and a material sensor that detects the material of the coin. The output of the upstream side identification sensor 18 is input to the control unit 20, and the control unit 20 compares the output of the upstream side identification sensor 18 with the master data stored in the storage unit 21, thereby coins C Identify the species. The control unit 20 removes the coin C whose denomination cannot be identified by the upstream side identification sensor 18 as a false coin from the conveyance path 15 by a reject unit (not shown) on the upstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of guides 16, 16 has an introduction guide surface 16 a that is widely spaced and parallel to each other on the upstream side, and a guide guide surface 16 b that is narrowly spaced and parallel to each other on the downstream side. An inclined guide surface 16c is formed between the introduction guide surface 16a and the lead-out guide surface 16b. The inclined guide surface 16c is inclined such that the distance from each other becomes narrower toward the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 4, rack gears 22 are fixed to the guides 16 and 16 along the width direction of the conveyance path 15, and the rack gears 22 mesh with a common pinion gear 23. As a result, the distance between the pair of guides 16 and 16 can be changed while keeping the center of the guides 16 and the center of the conveyance path 15 in the width direction. The pinion gear 23 is fixed to the drive shaft 25 of the stepping motor 24, and the distance between the pair of guides 16 and 16 is appropriately adjusted according to the denomination by the driving force of the stepping motor 24. That is, the control unit 20 uses the stepping motor 24 based on the identification result of the upstream side identification sensor 18 so that the interval between the derivation guide surfaces 16b and 16b is slightly wider than the diameter of the coin C to be passed and conveys the coin C. It adjusts to the space | interval guided to the center position of the width direction of the path | route 15. In addition, the space | interval between the introduction guide surfaces 16a and 16a is set to the space | interval which can accept the coin of the largest diameter which has flowed from the upstream even when the narrowest. The slide guide 17, the rack gear 22, the pinion gear 23, and the stepping motor 24 constitute a variable mechanism (guide means) 26 that makes the distance between the guides 16 and 16 variable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of guides 16 and 16 described above are interrupted at a midway position in the transport path 15, and a portion where the guides 16 and 16 are not present in the transport path 15 is formed by a transparent plate 30.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an optical axis O is disposed below the transparent plate 30 (that is, one side in the thickness direction of the coin C moving along the transport path 12) so as to be orthogonal to the transparent plate 30. The first camera (first image pickup means) 31 is disposed. The first camera 31 includes a lens 32 disposed on the transparent plate 30 side and a light receiving unit 33 including an area sensor such as a CCD disposed on the opposite side of the transparent plate 30. Here, the first camera 31 is arranged so that the center of the coin C guided by the pair of guides 16, 16 passes on the optical axis O of the first camera 31. Further, the size of the transparent plate 30 is set so that the entire largest diameter coin C falls within the inner range of the transparent plate 30 in a state where the center of the maximum diameter coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. Has been. The first camera 31 can capture an entire image of the lower surface Ca of the coin C of all denominations when the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. The pair of guides 16, 16 described above guide the coin C and pass the center thereof onto the optical axis O of the first camera 31.

  On the upper side of the transparent plate 30 (that is, the opposite side of the thickness direction of the coin C moving along the transport path 12), a gap that does not hinder the movement of the coin C moving on the transparent plate 30, that is, the transport path 15 is provided. A conical ring mirror (ring mirror) 35 is disposed. The conical ring mirror 35 is formed with a conical reflecting surface 35 a whose diameter decreases as the distance from the transparent plate 30 increases. The conical ring mirror 35 and its conical reflecting surface 35a have the first camera 31 and the optical axis O coincide with each other, and the entire outer diameter surface Cb of the coin C in a state coincident with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. The image is reflected toward the first camera 31 regardless of the denomination, and is formed at a size and an angle that can be simultaneously and coaxially formed outside the imaging range of the lower surface Ca of the coin C of the first camera 31. ing. Thereby, when the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31 with respect to the coin C of all denominations, the first camera 31 has the light receiving unit 33 as shown in the image of FIG. In the light receiving area X, the entire image CaX of the lower surface Ca and the entire image (edge image) CbX of the outer diameter surface Cb can be simultaneously captured. Note that a telecentric lens is adopted as the lens 32 of the first camera 31 so that a good image of the lower surface Ca and the outer diameter surface Cb can be obtained.

  On the upper side of the conical ring mirror 35 (that is, on the opposite side of the thickness direction of the coin C moving along the transport path 12), the second camera (second imaging means) 38 is connected to the first camera 31 and the conical ring. The mirror 35 and the optical axis O are arranged to coincide with each other. The second camera 38 includes a lens 39 disposed on the conical ring mirror 35 side and a light receiving unit 40 including an area sensor such as a CCD disposed on the opposite side of the conical ring mirror 35. . When the second camera 38 is in a state where the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the second camera 38 with respect to the coin C of all denominations, the entire image of the upper surface Cc is displayed inside the conical ring mirror 35. Imaging can be performed through space.

  A ring-shaped LED 42 is arranged immediately below the transparent plate 30 so that the center coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. This ring-shaped LED 42 can irradiate the entire lower surface Ca and the entire outer diameter surface Cb when the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31 for the coin C of all denominations. It has become. The ring-shaped LED 42 has a size that does not interfere with the imaging of the first camera 31.

  A ring-shaped LED 44 is also disposed immediately above the conical ring mirror 35 with its center aligned with the optical axis O of the conical ring mirror 35. The ring-shaped LED 44 can irradiate light on the entire upper surface Cc of the coin C of all denominations when the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. Note that the ring-shaped LED 44 is set to a size that does not interfere with the imaging of the second camera 38.

  Above and below the transparent plate 30, timing sensors 46 a to 46 f shown in FIG. 3 are provided for each of a plurality of denominations for measuring the imaging timing when the center of the coin C coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31. . Here, the timing sensor 46a is for a minimum-diameter 1-yen coin, the timing sensor 46b is for a 50-yen coin, the timing sensor 46c is for a 5-yen coin, the timing sensor 46d is for a 100-yen coin, and the timing sensor 46e is for a 10-yen coin. The timing sensor 46f is for a coin with a maximum diameter of 500 yen (FIG. 1 shows only the timing sensor 46f, and FIG. 2 shows only the timing sensors 46a and 46f). These timing sensors 46a to 46f are optical ones composed of a light emitting element 47 and a light receiving element 48 as shown in FIG. 1, and the light emission of the light emitting element 47 is shielded by the downstream end of the coin C and is received by the light receiving element 48. The timing at which light reception is impossible is arranged at a position at which the corresponding coin type coin C is imaged. When the center of the coin C having the smallest diameter coincides with the optical axis O of the first camera 31, only one timing sensor shielded at the downstream end of the coin C is provided. The imaging timing may be obtained after waiting for a delay time corresponding to the diameter.

  In the coin identification device 11 of the present embodiment configured as described above, when the coin C moves one by one along the conveyance path 12 due to the inclination of the conveyance path 15, the coin C first passes through the upstream identification sensor 18. To do. At this time, the control unit 20 compares the diameter and material of the coin C detected by the upstream identification sensor 18 with the master data stored in the storage unit 21, and identifies the denomination by the combination of the diameter and material. Become. The control unit 20 removes coins whose denominations cannot be identified by the upstream side identification sensor 18 as fake coins from the conveyance path 15 by a reject unit (not shown) on the upstream side, and guides them to a predetermined exclusion place.

  When the denomination of the coin C is identified by the upstream side identification sensor 18, the control unit 20 drives the stepping motor 24 to match the pair of guides 16 and 16 with the identified denomination. Then, the coin C moving with the inclination of the conveyance path 15 enters between the introduction guide surfaces 16a and 16a, passes between the inclination guide surfaces 16c and 16c, and further passes between the guide guide surfaces 16b and 16b, and is transparent. It is drawn out on the plate 30. At this time, the position of the optical axis O of the first camera 31, the second camera 38, and the conical reflecting surface 35a in the width direction of the transport path 15 is the center position of the coin C in the width direction of the transport path 15. And move further in the same state. The control unit 20 irradiates the ring-shaped LEDs 42 and 44 when a coin is detected by the upstream side identification sensor 18, and the coin C identified by the upstream side identification sensor 18 among the timing sensors 46a to 46f. When the denomination for the first denomination is shielded and the imaging timing is reached, imaging by the first camera 31 and the second camera 38 is simultaneously performed.

  Then, as shown in the image in FIG. 5, the entire image CaX of the lower surface Ca of the coin C and the entire image CbX of the outer diameter surface Cb by the first camera 31 are input to the control unit 20. Although not shown, the entire image of the upper surface Cc of the coin C by the second camera 38 is also input. The control unit 20 identifies the coin C by comparing these imaging results with master data (dictionary image) stored in the storage unit 21.

  For example, the master data is stored as surface reference master data in which the data obtained by simultaneously imaging the lower surface Ca and the outer diameter surface Cb and the data of the upper surface Cc when the surface of the coin C becomes the lower surface Ca are matched in phase relationship. Similarly, when the back surface of the coin C becomes the lower surface Ca, data obtained by simultaneously imaging the lower surface Ca and the outer diameter surface Cb and the data of the upper surface Cc are stored as back surface reference master data in phase relation. ing. And the control part 20 rotates the image data of the upper surface Cc imaged with the 2nd camera 38 in synchronization with rotating the image data of the lower surface Ca of the coin C imaged with the 1st camera 31, and the outer diameter surface Cb, The phase having the highest degree of coincidence with the surface reference master data is obtained, and if the degree of coincidence of the lower surface Ca, the degree of coincidence of the outer diameter surface Cb, and the degree of coincidence of the upper surface Cc are respectively greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio, upstream identification is performed. The denomination of the identification result of the sensor 18 is determined. If any of the coincidence degrees is less than a predetermined ratio, the phase having the highest coincidence with the back surface reference master data is obtained in the same manner as described above, and the coincidence degree of the lower surface Ca and the outer diameter surface Cb at this time are obtained. If the degree of coincidence and the degree of coincidence of the upper surface Cc are each greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio, the denomination of the identification result of the upstream identification sensor 18 is determined. When the degree of coincidence of any one of the lower surface Ca, the outer diameter surface Cb, and the upper surface Cc is less than a predetermined ratio for both the surface reference master data and the back surface master data, the control unit 20 determines that the coin C is a fake coin. Identification is performed, and the downstream rejection unit (not shown) is excluded from the conveyance path 15 and guided to a predetermined exclusion location.

  According to the coin identification device 11 of the present embodiment described above, the first camera 31 disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the coin C moving along the transport path 12 is connected to the one side of the coin C. The lower surface Ca and the outer diameter surface Cb reflected by the conical reflecting surface 35a disposed on the opposite side of the coin C in the thickness direction are simultaneously imaged. Therefore, it is possible to image and inspect the entire engraved pattern of the outer diameter surface Cb as well as the entire pattern of the lower surface Ca of the coin C, and to have a phase relationship between the pattern of the lower surface Ca and the pattern of the outer diameter surface Cb. Can be inspected. Therefore, a more accurate appearance inspection can be performed.

  Further, the conical reflection surface 35a is formed on the conical ring mirror 35, and the coin C is passed through the space inside the conical ring mirror 35 by the second camera 38 disposed on the opposite side of the coin C in the thickness direction. The entire upper surface Cc on the opposite side is imaged. Therefore, the entire pattern of the lower surface Ca of the coin C, the entire pattern of the outer diameter surface Cb, and the entire pattern of the upper surface Cc can be simultaneously imaged and inspected. Each phase relationship between the pattern and the pattern on the upper surface Cc can also be inspected. Therefore, it is possible to perform an appearance inspection with higher accuracy.

  In addition, the pair of guides 16 and 16 of the transport path 12 guide the coin C and pass the center of the coin C on the conical reflection surface 35 a and the optical axis O of the first camera 31. The outer diameter surface Cb can be favorably imaged.

  Moreover, since the conveyance path | route 12 moves the coin C by dead weight by inclination, the reduction | decrease in the effective imaging data by the 1st camera 31 and the 2nd camera 38 can be prevented.

  The conveyance path 15 may be horizontal and the coins may be conveyed by being pressed against the conveyance path 15 by a conveyance belt disposed above and below the conical ring mirror 35. In this case, since the transport belt is included in the imaging data of the first camera 31 and the second camera 38, the control unit 20 masks the transport belt portion of these data when comparing the imaging data with the master data. Will be compared. In this case, a reflection type sensor is used as the timing sensor.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, only one guide 16 that can move in the width direction of the conveyance path 15 may be provided. In this case, a pressing member 51 such as a leaf spring that presses the coin C against the guide 16 is provided on the opposite side of the guide 16, and the pressing by the pressing member 51 is released before the coin C is separated from the guide 50.
In addition to ring illumination such as ring LEDs 42 and 44, dome illumination, epi-illumination, and the like may be used.

It is sectional drawing of the coin identification device which is one Embodiment of the disk-shaped object external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is A arrow directional view of FIG. 1 which shows the same coin identification device. It is a block diagram which shows the same coin identification device. It is a figure which shows the variable mechanism of the guide of the coin identification device. It is a figure which shows the image of the imaging of the 1st camera of the coin identification device. It is a figure which shows the modification of the variable mechanism of the coin identification device.

Explanation of symbols

11 Coin identification device (disc-like object appearance inspection device)
12 Transport path 16 Guide (guide means)
26 Variable mechanism (guide means)
31 1st camera (1st imaging means)
35 Conical ring mirror (ring mirror)
35a Conical reflecting surface 38 Second camera (second imaging means)
C coin (disk-shaped object)
O Optical axis

Claims (4)

A first imaging means disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the disk-like object that moves along the conveyance path;
A conical reflecting surface disposed on the opposite side of the thickness direction of the disk-shaped object and reflecting an image of the outer diameter surface of the disk-shaped object toward the first imaging means,
The disk-shaped object appearance inspection apparatus, wherein the first imaging unit images the surface on the one side of the disk-shaped object and the outer diameter surface reflected by the conical reflecting surface. The conical reflecting surface is formed on a ring mirror;
The second imaging means for imaging the opposite surface of the disk-like object through the space inside the ring mirror on the opposite side of the disk-like object. Disc-shaped object appearance inspection apparatus as described in 1. The optical axis of the conical reflecting surface coincides with the optical axis of the first imaging means,
3. The circle according to claim 1, wherein guide means for guiding the disk-shaped object and passing the center of the disk-shaped object on the optical axis is provided in the transport path. Plate-like object appearance inspection device.   4. The disk-shaped object appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport path moves the disk-shaped object by its own weight by inclination. 5.

Images