JP2013109477A - Medal selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medal selection device capable of accurately distributing a designated number of medals.SOLUTION: A medal selection device comprises: a delivery device that separates and delivers medals accumulated in a first holding bowl one by one; an alignment feeding device that temporarily holds medals delivered from the delivery device in a second holding bowl, sorts the temporarily held medals one by one and delivers the medals to a medal mobile route; a moving device that moves the medals delivered from the alignment feeding device along the mobile route; medal determination means that determines authenticity of the medals on the mobile route; a sorting device that, on the basis of the result of determination by the medal determination means, distributes each medal moving along the mobile route to either a genuine medal exit or a false medal exit; and a control device that adjusts the number of delivering medals delivered from the delivery device to the second holding bowl according to the number of genuine medals determined by the medal determination means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal sorting device, and more specifically, sorts out genuine medals and fake medals, counts the selected genuine medals, and stops the count every time a designated number of genuine medals are counted. The present invention relates to a medal sorting device having a batch counting function in which a number of genuine medals are paid out. The present invention is suitably used for a medal sorting device that acquires an image formed on the front or back surface of a medal with an imaging device and sorts a genuine medal and a fake medal.

  In the present specification, the “medal” includes tokens such as medals and tokens of game machines, and coins as currency, and the shape includes a circle and a polygon.

  An example of a sorting device using image processing is a token sorting device disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the token sorting device of Patent Document 1, an alignment supply device that separates tokens held in a loose state in a storage bowl by a rotating disk one by one and sends them to the imaging process, and a token that is sent one by one from the alignment supply device A pusher that moves the imaging path by pushing one by one with a pusher having a pushing blade, an imaging device that captures a token that moves the imaging path, and acquires image information A discriminating device that discriminates the authenticity of the token based on the information; and a sorting device that sorts the token transported by the pusher to the authentic token exit or the fake token exit based on the discrimination result of the discriminating device.

  Further, there is known a coin sorting device having a function called batch processing or batch counting, which stops counting every time a predetermined number of sorted coins are counted, and starts counting again after taking out the coins. There is a coin sorter disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  In the coin sorter of Patent Document 2, in the batch processing mode, the designated denomination coin identified by the identification unit is removed by the abnormal coin removing means and stored in the reject box, and the designated denomination coin is counted in a predetermined number. A batch processing control unit is provided that stops a predetermined number of coins or less each time by a coin stopping means and stops batch processing when an abnormal coin is identified.

Japanese Patent No. 4682343 (FIGS. 1 to 6, paragraph numbers 0024 to 0028, paragraph number 0030 to paragraph number 0032, paragraph number 0036, paragraph number 0045) Japanese Patent No. 3405643 (FIGS. 1 to 4, paragraph number 0056 to paragraph number 0066)

  When batch counting is performed in the token sorting device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to stop the sorting supply instantaneously and the sorting device to be stopped instantaneously when the number of genuine tokens selected reaches a specified number. is there. This is because if the stoppage is delayed, the subsequent authentic tokens on the imaging path are distributed to the authentic token exit by the distribution device, and tokens exceeding the designated number are paid out from the authentic token exit. However, since the operation of the aligning and feeding device and the pushing device is subject to overrun due to inertia, it is difficult to stop the sorting instantaneously. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to pay out the specified number of tokens accurately. In order to prevent such excessive payout, it is only necessary to slow down the operation speed of the alignment supply device and the pushing device when at least the number of genuine tokens selected approaches the specified number. However, in that case, there is a problem that the processing speed decreases.

  In addition, when changing the maximum number of tokens that can be stored in the storage bowl, that is, the capacity of the storage bowl in the token sorting device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to change the design of the alignment supply device. This is because when the capacity of the holding bowl is changed, the maximum load on the aligning and feeding apparatus also changes. Therefore, there is a problem that various specifications from a small capacity to a large capacity cannot be easily handled.

  In the coin sorting machine of Patent Document 2, every time a predetermined number of designated denomination coins are counted, a predetermined number of coins are stopped by the coin stopping means, so that an excessive number of coins are prevented from being paid out. However, since the batch processing is resumed after the coins in the coin passage stopped by the coin stopping means are conveyed in the reverse direction and returned to the rotating disk, time is consumed until the restart, and the processing speed There is a problem that decreases.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medal sorting device capable of accurately paying out a specified number of medals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a medal sorting device capable of accurately paying out a specified number of medals without causing a decrease in processing speed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a medal sorting device that can easily cope with various specifications from a small capacity to a large capacity.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a medal sorting device capable of improving maintainability.
Other objects of the present invention which are not specified here will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

  In order to achieve this object, the medal sorting device according to the present invention is configured as follows.

  (1) The medal sorting device according to the present invention discriminates true / false of medals, sorts them into genuine medals and fake medals, counts the selected genuine medals, and selects each time a designated number of genuine medals are counted. A medal sorting device having a batch counting function in which counting is stopped and the designated number of genuine medals are paid out, the medal stored in the first holding bowl being separated one by one, and the sending device The medal supplied from the apparatus is temporarily held in the second holding bowl, and the temporarily held medals are sorted one by one and sent to the movement path of the medals, and sent from the aligning and feeding apparatus. The determination result of the moving device that moves the medal along the moving path, the medal determining means that determines the authenticity of the medal on the moving path, and the determination result of the medal determining means Based on a distribution device that distributes medals moving along the movement path to either a genuine medal exit or a fake medal exit, and from the sending device according to the number of genuine medals determined by the medal determination means And a control device for adjusting the number of supplied medals supplied to the second storage bowl.

  In the present invention, “adjusting the number of supplied medals” means changing the number of supplied medals appropriately.

  In the medal sorting device of the present invention, medals stored in the first holding bowl are separated and sent out one by one by the feeding device. The medals sent out from the sending device are supplied to the second holding bowl and temporarily held, and the temporarily held medals are sorted one by one by the alignment supply device and sent out to the medal movement path. The medals sent out from the alignment supply device are moved along the movement path by the movement device, and the authenticity is determined by the medal determination means in the movement path. The medals moving along the movement path are distributed to either the genuine medal exit or the fake medal exit by the distribution device based on the determination result of the medal determination means. Then, according to the determined number of genuine medals, the number of supplied medals supplied from the sending device to the second holding bowl is adjusted by the control device. Therefore, if the number of medals supplied to the second holding bowl is adjusted so that the number of genuine medals to be paid out does not exceed the designated number, the designated number of medals can be paid out accurately. In addition, if the alignment supply device, the moving device, and the delivery device are individually operated, a specified number of medals can be paid out without stopping the alignment supply device and the movement device. The processing speed is not reduced due to the stoppage. Therefore, the designated number of medals can be paid out accurately without causing a decrease in processing speed.

  Moreover, if the capacity | capacitance of a 1st storage bowl is changed, the process capacity | capacitance of the whole medal sorting apparatus can be changed, without changing the capacity | capacitance of a 2nd storage bowl. Although the specification of the delivery device needs to be changed along with the change in the capacity of the first holding bowl, the change is relatively easy if a known hopper device is used as the delivery device. Therefore, various specifications from small capacity to large capacity can be easily handled.

  Furthermore, since the medal is supplied to the second holding bowl through the sending device, foreign matters such as dust attached to the medal are reduced when passing through the sending device. Usually, when a foreign object enters the medal discrimination means, the medal discrimination is adversely affected. Therefore, periodic cleaning of the medal discrimination means is necessary. However, since the foreign matter is reduced by the feeding device, the cleaning cycle of the medal discriminating device is lengthened and the maintainability is improved.

  (2) In a preferable example of the medal sorting device according to the present invention, in the medal sorting device according to (1), the control device intermittently operates the sending device repeatedly and repeatedly, and the intermittent operation of the sending device. The number of supplied medals is set every time. In this case, even if the medal sending speed of the sending device is higher than the medal sending speed of the aligning and feeding device, there is an advantage that overflow in the second holding bowl can be prevented if the non-operation time is set to an appropriate value. Thereby, since the capacity | capacitance of a 2nd storage bowl can be made small, size reduction of an alignment supply apparatus is attained, and by extension, a medal sorting apparatus can be reduced in size.

  (3) In another preferable example of the medal sorting device according to the present invention, in the medal sorting device according to (2), the control device counts the number of the genuine medals and the designated number for each intermittent operation of the sending device. A difference is obtained, and when the number difference exceeds a predetermined value, the number of supplied medals is set to the predetermined value, and when the number difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the number of supplied medals is set to the number difference. In this case, a predetermined value of medals is supplied until the difference between the number of genuine medals and the specified number is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and when the difference between the number of sheets is equal to or less than the specified value, the supplied number is reduced and only the shortage with respect to the specified number is obtained. Therefore, the designated number of medals can be paid out accurately, and the number of repetitions of the intermittent operation is reduced, thereby increasing the processing speed.

  (4) In still another preferred example of the medal sorting device of the present invention, in the medal sorting device of (3) above, when the medal discrimination means does not perform the medal discrimination for a predetermined time, the sending device is in an inoperative state. The medal discrimination is executed. In this case, even if medals remain in the second holding bowl or the movement path, the remaining medals are reliably determined, so that the designated number of medals can be paid out more accurately.

  (5) In still another preferable example of the medal sorting device according to the present invention, in the medal sorting device according to (4), the medal determination unit captures a medal moving along the moving path and acquires image information. An imaging device; and a determination device that determines the authenticity of a medal based on image information acquired by the imaging device. In this case, since the authenticity of the medal is determined based on the image information acquired by the imaging device, more accurate determination is possible.

  In the medal sorting device of the present invention, (a) a specified number of medals can be paid out accurately, (b) a specified number of medals can be paid out accurately without causing a decrease in processing speed, (c) ) It is possible to easily cope with various specifications from small capacity to large capacity, and (d) improved maintainability.

It is a perspective view which shows the medal selection apparatus of one Example of this invention. It is a top view of the state which removed the housing | casing upper part of the medal selection apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which removed the storage bowl which shows the sending apparatus which comprises the medal sorting apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of the state which removed the storage bowl of the delivery apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the selection unit which comprises the medal selection apparatus of FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sorting unit in FIG. 5 with a storage bowl removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sorting unit in FIG. 5 with a storage bowl and an imaging device removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sorting unit in FIG. 5 with a storage bowl, an imaging device, and a guide body removed. It is sectional drawing along the IX-IX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the XX line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the imaging device which comprises the selection unit of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the imaging device and authenticity determination apparatus which comprise the selection unit of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the timing signal output device which comprises the imaging device of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating the control apparatus which comprises the medal selection apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal selection apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the selection counting step of FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of the selection counting step in FIG. 15 and is a continuation of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the supply sheet count step of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the selection number counting step of FIG. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the time transition of the number of sheets supplied for explaining the operation of the medal sorting device in FIG. 1, where (A) shows the case of the batch counting mode and (B) shows the case of the normal counting mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Constitution)
1 and 2 show a medal sorting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The medal sorting device 1 has a function of discriminating the authenticity of the medal M and sorting it into a genuine medal and a fake medal, and counting the selected genuine medal and fake medal. The medal sorting device 1 includes a housing 2 having a substantially rectangular box shape, a sending device 10 and a sorting unit 20 arranged in the housing 2, and a medal passage arranged between the sending device 10 and the sorting unit 20. 11 and the control device 30.

  First, the housing 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The housing 2 has an upper surface 2a, a bottom surface 2b, a front surface 2c, a back surface 2d, a right side surface 2e, and a left side surface 2f. On the upper surface 2a of the housing 2, a medal slot 3 having a substantially rectangular opening 3a is disposed on the back surface 2d side, and an operation panel 4 having a display 5 and a plurality of operation buttons 6 is disposed on the front surface 2c side. ing. By operating the operation button 6, the medal sorting device 1 can be started and stopped, and the operation mode and the display content of the display 5 can be switched.

  On the front surface 2 c of the housing 2, a payout chute cover 7 covering the genuine medal payout chute 8 is formed to protrude outward. The genuine medal payout chute 8 extends downward from the inside of the housing 2 through the payout chute cover 7 and has a function of paying out the true medal selected by the medal sorting device 1. At the lower end of the genuine medal payout chute 8, a storage bag mounting ring 8a is inserted. The storage bag mounting ring 8a is formed of a circular plate member with a part cut away, and a genuine medal storage bag (not shown) for storing the paid out authentic medal is mounted on the authentic medal payout chute 8. Has the function of

  On the right side surface 2e of the housing 2, a fake medal storage box 9 is disposed below the front surface 2c. The fake medal storage box 9 has a function of storing the fake medals selected by the medal sorting device 1.

  Next, the sending device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The sending device 10 has a function of separating and sending out the medals M held in a bulk state one by one. Therefore, the sending device 10 can be changed to another device having the same function. In this embodiment, the sending device 10 is a medal hopper device 100. As the medal hopper device 100, for example, a device disclosed in JP 2010-218505 A is used. The medal hopper device 100 includes at least a frame 101, a base 102, a first retaining bowl 103, a rotating disk 104, a medal M circumferential guide device 105, a ejecting device 106, an exit passage 107, a medal detection device 108, and an exit passage defining device 109. Is included.

  The frame 101 has a function of supporting the base 102 and the first storage bowl 103, and has a rectangular cylindrical shape that is injection-molded with resin. The frame 101 includes a lower end base portion 111 and a rectangular cylindrical support portion 112 that is integrated with the lower end base portion 111 and extends upward. In the hollow portion of the support portion 112, a control board, a first electric motor 110 for driving the rotating disk 104, and the like are disposed, and the head portion is formed obliquely.

  The base 102 has a function of holding the first holding bowl 103, the rotating disc 104, the circumferential guide device 105, the ejecting device 106, and the medal detecting device 108 at predetermined positions, and the medal M moved by the rotating disc 104. It has a function to guide. The base 102 has a rectangular thick plate shape and is fixed to the top of the support portion 112. In other words, the base 102 is inclined at a predetermined angle.

  The base 102 has a bottomed and round pan-shaped guide hole 122 located at the center of the upper surface 121, and first mounting portions 123A and 123B and second mounting portions 124A and 124B of the first storage bowl 103 formed at the upper and lower ends. And an outlet opening 125 in which a part of the peripheral surface of the guide hole 122 is opened, and an attachment portion 126 of the medal detection device 108 and an attachment portion (not shown) of the circumferential guide device 105 on the back surface side. A bottom surface 122a of the guide hole 122 is a substantially flat surface, and a shaft hole (not shown) through which the rotating shaft 127 for attaching the rotating disk 104 passes is formed in the center.

  The medal M pushed by the rotating disk 104 moves while its lower surface slides on the bottom surface 122 a of the guide hole 122 and its peripheral surface is guided by the peripheral wall 128 that is the peripheral surface of the guide hole 122. A later-described ejecting device 106 is arranged facing the outlet opening 125.

  The first storage bowl 103 has a function of storing the medals M in a stacked state. The lower end 131 of the first storage bowl 103 has a cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the guide hole 122, and extends in a direction orthogonal to the base 102. In other words, the lower end portion 131 extends obliquely upward, and the upper end portion 132 is formed with an upper opening 133 that expands in a square shape. The upper opening 133 is opposed to the opening 3a of the medal slot 3 shown in FIG. The upper part of the rotating disk 104 is disposed in the bottom hole 134 in the cylinder of the lower end 131. The upper end portion 132 and the lower end portion 131 of the first storage bowl 103 are connected by an inclined wall, and the medals M riding on the first holding bowl 103 naturally slide down due to gravity and drop onto the rotating disk 104 below. By locking a locking portion (not shown) formed at the lower part of the first holding bowl 103 to the first mounting portions 123A, 123B and the second mounting portions 124A, 124B, the first holding bowl 103 can be easily operated. It can be attached to and removed from the base 102. Note that the maximum medal storage number (in other words, medal capacity) of the first holding bowl 103 in this embodiment is about 2000.

  The rotating disk 104 has a function of sorting the medals M, which are held in a loosely stacked state in the first holding bowl 103, one by one and transporting them to the ejecting device 106. The rotary disk 104 is rotationally driven by a first electric motor 110 via a speed reducer (not shown). On the rotating disk 104, circular through holes 141 are formed at equal intervals on a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the rotation axis, and a downward cone-shaped introduction portion 142 is formed on the upper surface side of the through hole 141. ing. Further, a conical shape is formed at the central portion, and a central convex portion 143 for attaching the rotating shaft 127 and stirring the medal M is formed. The rotating disk 104 has a lower part in the guide hole 122 and a peripheral surface that is narrower than the thickness of the medal M with respect to the peripheral wall 128, and an upper part in the bottom hole 134 of the lower end 131 of the first retaining bowl 103. It is arranged with a slight gap.

  On the back side of the rotating disk 104, a first pushing portion 145 and a second pushing portion 146 for pushing out the medal M are opposed to each of the through holes 141 on the lower surface of the rib 144 defining the through hole 141. Projecting downward.

  When the rotating disk 104 is rotated, the medal M placed thereon is agitated by the through hole 141, the central convex portion 143, etc., and the posture is changed and falls to the through hole 141. The lower surface of the dropped medal M is guided by the bottom surface 122a of the guide hole 122, and the outer periphery is guided by the peripheral wall 128. Then, the rotary disk 104 is rotated by the first pusher 145 and the second pusher 146 along with the rotary disk 104 by the rotation of the rotary disk 104. At this time, although the peripheral surface of the medal M is guided to the peripheral wall 128, the contact pressure with respect to the peripheral wall 128 is not based on the large contact pressure because it is mostly based on the centrifugal force. In the follow-up process, the medal M whose rotation is prevented by the first restricting body 105A and the second restricting body 105B of the circumferential guide device 105 is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 104, and finally the second pushing motion. The portion 146 is pushed into the outlet opening 125.

  The circumferential direction guide device 105 has a function of guiding the medal M pushed by the first pushing portion 145 and the second pushing portion 146 in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 104 and guiding it to the outlet opening 125. Specifically, a cylindrical pin-shaped first restricting body 105A and second restricting body 105B that pass through the base 102 from the lower side to the upper side and extend toward the rotating disk 104 are arranged. In other words, the first restricting body 105A and the second restricting body 105B protrude in the movement path of the medal M.

  105 A of 1st control bodies and the 2nd control body 105B are being fixed to the leaf | plate spring (not shown) by which the end was fixed to the attaching part of the back surface of the base 102. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the medal M pushed by the first pushing portion 145 and the second pushing portion 146 is prevented from being rotated by the rotating disc 104 by the first restricting body 105A and the second restricting body 105B, and the outlet opening 125 side To be guided to. When the first restricting body 105A and the second restricting body 105B receive a predetermined lateral force from the medal M, the leaf springs are elastically deformed so that the first restricting body 105A and the second restricting body 105B are below the bottom surface 122a. The medal M can move over it and can move with the rotating disk 104.

  The outlet opening 125 is a rectangular opening in which the peripheral wall 128 of the guide hole 122 on the side of the circumferential guide device 105 is cut out over a predetermined length. In the present embodiment, since the outlet of the medal M is defined by a first guide 161 and a second guide 162 described later, an outlet opening 125 is formed between them. The length of the outlet opening 125 (the length in the circumferential direction of the guide hole 122) is long enough for the medal M to pass.

  The exit passage 107 has a function of guiding a medal M that is ejected by a later-described ejecting device 106. The outlet passage 107 is a thin plate-like passage that extends in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 104 continuously to the outlet opening 125. The outlet passage 107 is defined by a concave groove 171 formed in the base 102, a first guide 161, a second guide 162, and an outlet passage definition guide 172 that covers the upper release surface of the concave groove 171. It is growing. The bottom surface 173 of the concave groove 171 is disposed in the same plane as the bottom surface 122a, and the lower surface of the medal M pushed out by the second pushing portion 146 is guided.

  The ejecting device 106 has a function of ejecting the medals M that are separated and sent one by one by the rotating disk 104 one by one. The ejecting device 106 includes a first guide 161, a second guide 162, and an urging means 163.

  The first guide 161 has a function of fixedly defining one side of the outlet opening 125 when the medal M is ejected. Furthermore, in this embodiment, there is a function of making the movement amount of the second guide 162 the same regardless of whether a small diameter medal or a large diameter medal is used. The first guide 161 in the present embodiment is configured by an arcuate end portion 164a of a spatula-shaped sheet metal guide body 164. In addition, since the detailed structure of the guide body 164 is disclosed by the said Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2010-218505, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  The second guide 162 is provided so as to be movable, and has a function of flipping out the medal M between the first guide 161 and the second guide 162. In the present embodiment, the second guide 162 is a roller 166 that is rotatably supported by the support shaft 165. The second guide 162 is disposed on the side of the rotary disk 104 and the first guide 161 and constitutes one side wall of the outlet opening 125. The support shaft 165 is fixed to one end portion of a swinging lever 168 that is pivotally attached to a support shaft 167 fixed downward on the back surface of the base 102, and passes through an arc-shaped elongated hole (not shown) of the base 102. And located in the outlet passage 107 adjacent to the outlet opening 125 and separated from the first guide 161 by a predetermined distance.

  The urging means 163 has a function of elastically bringing the second guide 162 close to the first guide 161. In this embodiment, the biasing means 163 is a spring. When the diameter portion of the medal M advances between the first guide 161 and the second guide 162, the medal M is moved to the exit passage by the resilient force of the urging means 163 after the second guide 162 is moved to the ejecting position. Play to 107. The second guide 162 is pivoted by the swinging lever 168, but can be changed so as to approach and separate from the first guide 161 by linear motion. Further, the urging means 163 can be changed to a device having a similar function such as an electromagnetic actuator and an air actuator in addition to the spring.

  The medal detection device 108 has a function of detecting a movement of the second guide 162 by the medal M directly or indirectly and outputting a medal detection signal DS. The medal detection device 108 of this embodiment includes a second guide 162, a swinging lever 168 that supports the second guide 162, an action piece 181 that moves integrally with the swinging lever 168, and a detection device for the action piece 181. 182. The action piece 181 is integrally formed with the swinging lever 168 and is formed at a position farther from the support shaft 167 than the second guide 162, and extends to a detected length in a circular arc shape with the support shaft 167 as the center. It is.

  The detection device 182 has a function of outputting an electrical medal detection signal DS of “H” or “L” when detecting the action piece 181 which is a detected portion. The detection device 182 of the embodiment is a transmissive photoelectric sensor, and outputs a medal detection signal DS when the projection light projected from the through hole is blocked. The detection device 182 is fixed to the back surface of the base 102 via an attachment portion 126.

  The outlet passage defining device 109 has a function of defining the outlet passage 107. In this embodiment, the outlet passage defining device 109 is composed of a base 102 and an outlet passage defining guide 172. However, other configurations may be adopted as long as the structure delimits the passage of the medal M. An end face of the exit passage 107 is an outlet 191 of the medal M. The outlet passage 107 is defined and formed by fitting the outlet passage definition guide 172 into the concave groove 171 of the base 102 and then fixing the outlet passage 107 to the base 102 by fixing means such as a screw. Specifically, the lower surface of the outlet passage 107 is defined by the bottom surface 122 a, the upper surface is defined by the lower surface of the outlet passage definition guide 172, and the side surface is defined by the side wall of the concave groove 171.

  Next, the sorting unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The sorting unit 20 captures the pattern of the surface of a large number of medals M, acquires it as image information, determines authenticity based on the acquired image information, and selects true medal or fake medal based on the determination result. It has a function. As the sorting unit 20, for example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-193373 is used. The sorting unit 20 includes at least an alignment supply device 21, a moving device 22, an imaging device 23, a true / false determination device 24, and a sorting device 25.

  First, the alignment supply device 21 will be described. The alignment supply device 21 has a function of sorting the medals M in a stacked state one by one and sending them to the next imaging process. Therefore, the alignment supply device 21 can be changed to another device having the same function. The alignment supply device 21 in the present embodiment has a function of sorting the medals M in a stacked state one by one and sending them to the moving device 22 in the next stroke. And a delivery device 221 located below the storage bowl 211.

  The second storage bowl 211 has a vertically-oriented cylindrical shape as a whole, the upper part is substantially rectangular, has a receiving opening 212 at the upper end, and a circular hole 213 is formed at the lower end. The second holding bowl 211 has a function of holding a large number of medals M in a stacked state, and is detachably attached to the upper surface of a guide body 226 described later. Note that the medal capacity of the second storage bowl 211 in the present embodiment is about 100.

  The sending device 221 has a function of sorting and sending out the medals M held in the second holding bowl 211 one by one. Therefore, the sending device 221 can be changed to another device having the same function. The delivery device 221 in the present embodiment is a rotating disk 223 having a plurality of through holes 222 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the medal M. The rotating disk 223 is disposed in the first circular hole 231 formed in the guide body 226 disposed on the base 225 which is the upper surface of the box-shaped base 224 below the second storage bowl 211 and fixed to the base 225. The second electric motor 241 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 via the transmission mechanism 242 and the rotating shaft 232. The rotating disk 223 has a chevron-shaped stirring portion 233 at the center, and is disposed concentrically with the circular hole 213 below the second storage bowl 211 in the first circular hole 231 of the guide body 226.

  The rotating disk 223 has an extrusion protrusion 234 on the back surface of the rib between the through holes 222. The medal M that has fallen into the through hole 222 is supported by the base 225 of the first circular hole 231, and is pushed by the extrusion protrusion 234 by the rotation of the rotating disk 223 while being guided by the peripheral surface of the first circular hole 231. And move together with the rotating disk 223. The moved medal M protrudes from the base 225 and is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 223 by the restriction pins 235 and 236 positioned in the moving path of the medal M. The medals M guided in the circumferential direction are sent through the communication path 237 one by one to the moving device 22.

  The roller 238 disposed adjacent to the side of the rotating disk 223 can elastically rotate around the rotating disk 223 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The roller 238 is disposed adjacent to the rotating disk 223, and has a function of buffering the impact and guiding it to the moving device 22 side when the sent-out medal M collides. Therefore, the roller 238 can be fixed.

  The base 225 has a function of guiding the lower surface of the medal M while sliding. In this embodiment, the base 225 includes an imaging unit base 251 and other part base 252. However, the base 225 can be composed of a single plate-like body made of the same material as the imaging unit base 251. In this embodiment, the other-part base 252 is subjected to an iron nitride compound layer treatment on the surface of the stainless steel plate to improve the wear resistance and the surface is dark and satin. A substantially rectangular opening 253 is formed in a portion of the other part base 252 facing the imaging device 23.

  The imaging unit base 251 is formed of a dark resin base material into a shape that fits closely into the opening 253. Dark color refers to black, dark gray, dark brown, dark blue, etc., and refers to low reflectance color and lightness. For example, a polyacetal resin is adopted as the resin base material in consideration of wear resistance. In this embodiment, a carbon resin is mixed with a polyacetal resin as a base material, and a black resin base material is used. Thereby, since the resin base material is black, the reflectance of light by color and brightness is the smallest. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a dark dark color close to black. And since resin has a uniform coloring degree from the surface to the inside, even if a resin base material is worn out, the surface is the same black and lightness.

  Further, since the medal M receives mechanical pressure or collides with a metal part in a game machine or the like, the surface is not smooth when viewed microscopically. When the medal M slides on the imaging unit base 251, the resin base material of the imaging unit base 251 has a lower hardness than the medal M and is damaged by the medal M, and the surface is not a mirror surface but is a rough surface. Thereby, the projection light for imaging is irregularly reflected by the rough surface, and the lightness does not change, so that the low reflectance is maintained. Therefore, by making the imaging unit base 251 dark resin, it is possible to maintain the same brightness and reflectivity as the original even if the slide surface is worn.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to mix fine pieces with high hardness such as glass or ceramic fibers and glass beads in the resin base material. Thereby, since the minute piece is exposed on the surface of the imaging unit base 251, the wear resistance of the imaging unit base 251 can be improved. On the other hand, when the resin base material is worn, the holding force of the fine piece by the resin base material is reduced, and the fine piece is dropped from the resin base material by the sliding of the medal M. When the minute piece falls off, the through hole forms a concave hole with respect to the surface of the imaging unit base 251. In addition, minute pieces that have not dropped off protrude from the surface of the imaging unit base 251. These concave holes and protruding small pieces form fine irregularities on the surface of the imaging unit base 251. In other words, the surface of the imaging unit base 251 is formed in a satin shape by the recessed holes and the protruding small pieces. Then, the dropout and protrusion of the minute piece are repeated due to wear of the resin base material of the imaging unit base 251. As described above, the surface of the imaging unit base 251 is always kept black and satin.

  The imaging unit base 251 is sandwiched and fixed between the base 224 and the guide body 226. When the imaging unit base 251 is worn, damaged, or has a large scratch that interferes with imaging, the imaging unit base 251 can be replaced with another imaging unit base 251. Since this exchange can be performed by removing the guide body 226, the exchange work is easy. In addition, when carbon fiber is employ | adopted as a micro piece, since the imaging part base 251 has electroconductivity, the static electricity which arises when the medal M slides can be earth | grounded to the base 224. FIG. Thereby, adhesion of the wear powder and the oil component due to charging of the imaging unit base 251 can be suppressed. Further, a plurality of air flow holes 254 are perforated at a position facing the imaging surface of the imaging device 23 of the imaging unit base 251.

  The air flow hole 254 has a function of blowing air blown by an air flow generating means (not shown) to a moving passage 274 described later or sucking an air flow from the moving passage 274. The air flow hole 254 can be various shapes such as a circle, a rectangle, and a triangle, but a circle is preferable in consideration of manufacturability and durability. If the diameter is too small, a sufficient air flow cannot be generated in the moving passage 274. If the diameter is too large, the amount of reflection of a light projecting device 283, which will be described later, is affected, and proper imaging cannot be performed. Is preferably 2 mm to 2.5 mm. In this embodiment, a plurality of air flow holes 254 are formed at positions facing an imaging surface 284 of the imaging device 23 described later. This is because in the moving passage 274 facing the imaging surface 284, the airflow is most enhanced to prevent dust from adhering to the imaging surface 284. However, considering the function of removing dust by placing it on the airflow, the airflow hole 254 does not need to be disposed in the imaging unit base 251 facing the imaging surface 284 and is formed facing the moving path 274 of the medal M. Just do it.

  Note that the airflow generation means has substantially the same configuration as that of JP 2009-193373 A, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the moving device 22 will be described. The moving device 22 has a function of actively moving the medals M sent one by one from the sending device 221 one by one in a predetermined direction. Therefore, the moving device 22 can be changed to another device having the same function. For example, the medal M can be moved by the moving belt. In this case, the belt is a moving body. In this embodiment, the moving device 22 includes a moving body 261 and a guide body 226.

  The moving body 261 has a function of moving in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed and forcibly pushing the medals M sent one by one from the alignment supply device 21 one by one. In this embodiment, the moving body 261 is the front end in the rotational direction of a three-propeller-shaped pusher lever 263A, 263B, 263C formed on the rotating body 262. The rotating body 262 is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 264. The rotary shaft 264 is rotationally driven from the transmission mechanism 242 of the rotary disk 223 via the transmission device 243 so as to rotate clockwise in FIG. 7 in synchronization with the rotary disk 223. In other words, the pushing levers 263 </ b> A, 263 </ b> B, and 263 </ b> C revolve on a rotation path 265 that exists in a virtual plane parallel to the base 225 located immediately above the base 225. The edge top surfaces 266 of these push levers 263A, 263B, 263C are arranged not to be positioned above the top surface of the medal M.

  In addition, receiving recesses 267A, 267B, and 267C for the semicircular medal M are formed between the pushing levers 263A, 263B, and 263C. These receiving recesses 267A, 267B, 267C are formed slightly larger than the maximum diameter medal that is assumed to be used. With this configuration, the medals M received one by one in the receiving recesses 267A, 267B, and 267C are moved in the clockwise direction while colliding with the front and rear moving bodies 261 and an arcuate guide surface described later.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral portion 268 of the moving body 261 on which the pushing levers 263A, 263B, and 263C are formed is thinner than the medal M and from the upper surface of the medal M that slides on the imaging unit base 251. Also turns in a plane close to the imaging unit base 251. The reason for this is to prevent projection light from a light projecting device, which will be described later, from being blocked by the push levers 263A, 263B, 263C, and the surface of the medal M from being shaded. In the push levers 263A, 263B, 263C, the central portion 269 is formed thicker than the peripheral edge portion 268, so that the strength of the push levers 263A, 263B, 263C is maintained and the imaging of the medal M is not affected.

  In this embodiment, the moving body 261 is formed of the same material as the imaging unit base 251. In other words, it is integrally formed with a dark resin containing minute pieces. Therefore, as described above, the surface of the moving body 261 has a satin-like shape, light is irregularly reflected, and since the lightness is low, the light reflectance is low and the overall light reflectance is low. Therefore, there is no influence on the token imaging by the moving body 261.

  The guide body 226 has a function of guiding the medal M pushed by the moving body 261 in a predetermined direction. Therefore, it can be changed to another device having the same function. In this embodiment, the guide body 226 is made of a stainless steel plate, and a second circular hole 271 is formed continuously with the first circular hole 231. The thickness of the guide body 226 is set in consideration of the thickness of the medal M. That is, since the medals M have different thicknesses for each type, the token thickness is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the thickest token M and less than twice the thinnest token thickness in the token thickness types assumed to be used. . This is to prevent the medals M from overlapping and to restrict irregular movement of the medals M that are moved at high speed. A partial circumferential surface of the second circular hole 271 is an arcuate guide surface 272 of the medal M. The arcuate guide surface 271 is subjected to a hardening process such as forming the nitride layer because the peripheral surface of the medal M slides.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a crescent-shaped concave groove 273 is formed on the upper surface of the guide body 226 so as to be opposed to a part of the arc-shaped guide surface 271. The height of the concave groove 273 from the upper surface of the imaging unit base 251 is about two thirds of the token thickness, and the height of the upper surface of the moving body 261 is substantially the same as the height from the upper surface of the imaging unit base 251. The concave groove 273 is provided relative to the imaging device 23, and the surface thereof is subjected to a satin finish treatment like the imaging unit base 251. Therefore, the projection light from the light projecting device described later of the imaging device 23 reaches the upper surface of the concave groove 273 after passing through the upper surface of the medal M. Therefore, the upper surface of the medal M is not shaded by the guide body 226, and thus does not affect the imaging of the medal M. The guide body 226 can be divided into a portion facing the rotating disk 223 and a portion around the rotating body 262.

  The rotating body 262 is disposed concentrically with the second circular hole 271 and is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6 in synchronization with the rotating disk 223. As a result, the medal M that has passed through the communication path 237 is immediately pushed by the moving body 261 of the rotating body 262 and moved onto the imaging unit base 251, and the circumferential surface is guided by the arcuate guide surface 272 in the direction of about 180 degrees. It is converted and reaches an outlet 275 described later. The medal M is determined to be true or false based on the imaging information obtained by the imaging device 23 and guided to the genuine medal exit 335 or the fake medal exit 336 by the distribution device 25. A path along which the medal M is moved by being guided by the arcuate guide surface 272 while being pushed by the moving body 261 is a moving path 274, and the imaging device 23 is disposed facing the moving path 274. The movement passage 274 is a passage through which the medal M moves (in other words, the movement route of the medal M).

  Next, the imaging device 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The imaging device 23 has a function of capturing an image of one surface of the medal M that moves in the moving path 274 and acquiring image information. Therefore, the imaging device 23 can be changed to another device having the same function. As shown in FIG. 11, the image pickup device 23, roughly a camera 282 and a light projecting device 283 are arranged in a box-shaped main body 281 (see FIG. 12), and images are taken via a circular image pickup surface 284 on the lower surface. The imaging surface 284 is configured by a transparent glass plate 285, projected from the light projecting device 283 through the glass plate 285, and photographed by the camera 282.

  The imaging device 23 is arranged so as to capture an upper surface of the medal M that slides on the imaging unit base 251. However, the imaging device 23 can also be arranged to image the lower surface of the medal M. The imaging device 23 includes at least a camera 282, a light projector 283, and a timing signal generator 286.

  The camera 282 has a function of capturing an image of one face of the facing medal M and acquiring image information of a pattern formed on the one face (that is, the front surface or the back surface). In this embodiment, the camera 282 is, for example, a CCD camera, and there are a method using a shutter and a method not using a shutter, but any method can be used as long as a medal M moving at high speed can be imaged.

  The light projecting device 283 has a function of projecting light intensively on the medal M. Since the light projector 283 images a large number of medals M that move at high speed, it is required to have high luminance and high durability. For example, it is preferable that the light projecting device 283 be configured to have a large number of white LEDs facing the medals M.

  The timing signal generation device 286 has a function of outputting a timing signal for setting at least the imaging timing of the camera 282 and the light projection timing of the light projection device 283 in conjunction with the moving medal M. Therefore, the timing signal generation device 286 can be changed to another device having the same function. In the present embodiment, the timing signal generation device 286 outputs a timing signal by indirectly detecting the position of the moving body 261, but directly detects the position of the moving body 261, for example, push levers 263A, 263B. The timing signal may be output by directly detecting the position of H.263C.

  The timing signal generation device 286 includes a timing signal output device 290 including a disk 287 fixed to the rotation shaft 264 of the rotating body 262, a first timing sensor 288, and a second timing sensor 289, and a timing signal output circuit 291. (See FIG. 12). As shown in FIG. 13, the disc 287 has three reference through holes 292A, 292B, 292C at equal angles corresponding to the pushing levers 263A, 263B, 263C, and a first concentric circle C1 centered on the rotation shaft 264. Formed on top. Further, between the reference through holes 292A, 292B, and 292C, the same number of split angle through holes 293 are formed on the second concentric circle C2 at the same angle. The first timing sensor 288 is arranged so that the projection light from the light projecting unit 294 can pass through the reference through holes 292A, 292B, and 292C, and outputs the reference signal SS to the timing signal output circuit 291 every time the light receiving unit 295 receives the light. To do. The second timing sensor 289 is arranged so that the projection light from the light projecting unit 296 can pass through the plurality of angle dividing holes 293, and outputs a count signal CS to the timing signal output circuit 291 every time the light receiving unit 297 receives the light. .

  The timing signal output circuit 291 receives the reference signal SS from the first timing sensor 288 and the count signal CS from the second timing sensor 289, and outputs the light projection signal PS at a preset timing. For example, when the reference signal SS from the first timing sensor 288 is received and the count signal CS from the second timing sensor 289 reaches a predetermined number, for example, 20, the light projection signal PS is output. The timing signal output circuit 291 can also output the light projection signal PS after a predetermined time has elapsed after a predetermined number of count signals CS have been input. By outputting the light projection signal PS based on the number of count signals CS as in this embodiment, a timing signal for light projection can be output with high accuracy.

  The light projecting device 283 is projected using the light projection signal PS as a trigger. This light projection timing is a timing suitable for imaging the entire upper surface of the medal M pushed by the moving body 261. Further, the camera 282 performs an imaging process in synchronization with the light projection of the light projecting device 283.

  Next, the authenticity discrimination device 24 will be described. The authenticity determination device 24 has a function of converting an image captured by the imaging device 23 into image information and comparing the image information with reference image information to determine whether the image is a genuine medal or a fake medal. Therefore, the authenticity determination device 24 can be changed to another means having the same function. In this embodiment, the authenticity discrimination device 24 supplies an acquired image information device 301 that converts an image acquired from the imaging device 23 into image information, a reference image information device 302 that stores reference image information, and an acquired image information device 301. The acquired image information and the reference image information stored in the reference image information unit 302, and the authenticity of the medal M based on the signal from the comparator 303 to determine whether the medal M is true or false And a discriminator 304 that outputs a medal signal FS. The imaging device 23 and the authenticity determination device 24 constitute a determination unit 26 that determines the authenticity of the medal M in the movement path (that is, the movement route) 274.

  Next, the moving device 311 of the imaging device 23 will be described. The moving device 311 has a function of moving the imaging device 23 between the imaging position and the non-imaging position. The moving device 311 has substantially the same configuration as that disclosed in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-193373. Therefore, the description is omitted here. Note that the moving device 311 can be changed to another device having the same function.

  Next, the cleaning device 321 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the cleaning device 321 is disposed on the moving path of the imaging surface 284 of the imaging device 23 and has a function of cleaning the imaging surface 284. Any other device that can clean the imaging surface 284 can be used. In this embodiment, the cleaning device 321 is a wiping body 322 composed of a non-woven fabric or the like that protrudes from the surface of the base 225. The wiping body 322 is disposed on a moving path or a non-imaging position of the imaging surface 284 of the imaging device 23, and can slide on the imaging surface 284 with a predetermined force. By wiping the imaging surface 284 with the wiping body 322, dust attached to the imaging surface 284 can be removed. The cleaning device 321 can be changed to a rotary brush or the like.

  Next, the distribution device 25 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 10. The distribution device 25 has a function of distributing the medal M sent from the exit 275 of the moving device 22 into a genuine medal and a fake medal based on the determination result of the authenticity determination device 24. Therefore, the distribution device 25 can be changed to another device having the same function. The distribution device 25 in this embodiment is disposed in the middle of a downward inertial movement passage 331 having a rectangular cross section formed continuously with the outlet 275. The distribution device 25 includes a deflecting body 332, a branch passage 333, and an actuator 334.

  The downward inertial movement path 331 is disposed on the base 224 and has a function of guiding the medal M received from the outlet 275 to the genuine medal outlet 335 or the fake medal outlet 336. Therefore, it can be replaced with another configuration having the same function. In this embodiment, the downward inertial movement path 331 is disposed below the outlet 275, is formed in a channel-shaped bowl shape, extends in a direction away from the imaging device 23, and its bottom surface 337 is a downward slope that descends as it moves away. Is formed. The passage width is preferably about 1.1 times the maximum diameter of the target medal. This is to reduce the size.

  The inclination angle of the bottom surface 337 is preferably an angle at which the medal M on the bottom surface 337 can naturally fall by its own weight. This is because even if the medals M travel to the downward inertial movement path 331 at a low speed, the medals M are distributed without being retained. An end of the downward inertial movement path 331 in the extending direction is a genuine medal outlet 335. Since the medal M is released from the pushing by the moving body 261 in the downward inertial movement path 331, the medal M advances depending on the inertial force after the pushing of the moving body 261. Specifically, it proceeds in the direction of the resultant force of the vector in the horizontal direction parallel to the imaging unit base 251 and the vector due to gravity.

  In other words, the medal M travels in the downward inertial movement path 331 while falling to the lower left in FIG. 10 and is supplied from the genuine medal outlet 335 to the next device. Therefore, depending on the situation, the medal M slides down on the bottom surface 337 of the downward inertia movement passage 331, moves in the air of the passage, or moves while bouncing the passage. In addition, since it is an inertial movement path, it is possible to select a genuine medal and a fake medal in the process in which the medal M moves inertially on the extension of the base 225 without providing the outlet 275. In this case, a path through which the medal M moves on the extension of the base 225 is an inertial movement path.

  The deflecting body 332 has a function of guiding the medal M to different passages based on the genuine medal signal TS or the fake medal signal FS from the authenticity determination device 24. Therefore, the deflecting body 332 can be changed to another device having a similar function. In this embodiment, the deflecting body 332 is disposed in a distribution opening 338 formed in the middle of the bottom surface 337. The distribution opening 338 is a rectangular opening.

  The deflecting body 332 is a rectangular plate-like body that is formed to be slightly smaller than the distribution opening 338, and one end thereof is fixed to the rotating shaft 339 of the actuator 334. The rotation shaft 339 is disposed at the downstream end of the distribution opening 338, and the deflecting body 332 is inclined so as to form part of the bottom surface 337 in the normal state. The tip of the deflector 332 on the outlet 275 side is locked and held by a stopper (not shown) at a position continuous with the bottom surface 337. This position is the standby position SP. When the actuator 334 is actuated, the actuator 334 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 10, and is locked and held by a stopper (not shown) at a chain line position inclined about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal line. At this time, the deflecting body 332 is positioned on the extension of the guide slope formed at the lower surface of the guide 340 and inclined at about 45 degrees, and traverses almost the entire downward inertial movement path 331. This position is the deflection position DP

  The branch passage 333 is a channel-shaped passage that is positioned below the distribution opening 338 and extends in a direction orthogonal to the downward inertial movement passage 331 in plan view. The bottom surface 341 of the branch passage 333 is formed as a downward slope in a direction away from the downward inertia movement passage 331. This inclination angle is an angle at which the medal M can slide down by its own weight. The width of the branch passage 333 is preferably about 1.3 times the assumed maximum medal diameter. This is to prevent a medal jam due to the violence of the medal M. The exit of the base 224 of the branch passage 333 is a false medal exit 336. Therefore, although the branch passage 333 is also a part of the downward inertia movement passage 331, when the false medal mixture rate is low, the branch passage 333 becomes the downward inertia movement passage 331 toward the genuine medal outlet 335.

  The medal M moved while being guided by the moving body 261 toward the exit 275 on the arcuate guide surface 272 is sent out at high speed in the tangential direction from the end surface of the arcuate guide surface 272. The sent-out medal M travels by inertial force, falls downward due to gravity, and proceeds from the exit 275 to the downward inertial movement path 331. When the medal M is determined to be a genuine medal, the deflecting body 332 forms a part of the bottom surface 337 as shown by a solid line in FIG. 10, and therefore the medal M traveling in the downward inertial movement path 331 is authentic. After jumping out from the medal exit 335, it is guided to the genuine medal payout chute 8 of FIG.

  The medal M travels in the downward inertia movement path 331 without being normally guided to the bottom surface 337. However, when the traveling speed is low or the pop-out direction is deviated, the medal M is guided by the bottom surface 337 and the side wall constituting the downward inertial movement path 331. Since the tip of the deflecting body 332 is disposed on the extension line of the bottom surface 337 or slightly below, it does not collide with the medal M that moves at high speed. Therefore, damage to the tip of the deflector 332 due to the collision of the medals M can be prevented.

  When it is determined that the medal M is a fake medal, the actuator 334 is operated for a predetermined time based on the fake medal signal FS, and the rotation shaft 339 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Accordingly, the deflecting body 332 is moved to the deflecting position DP indicated by the chain line in FIG. 10 by the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating shaft 339. When the deflecting body 332 is positioned at the deflecting position DP, the deflecting body 332 crosses the downward inertial movement path 331 along which the medal M moves. The medal M that moves in the downward inertial movement path 331 collides with the deflecting body 332, is turned downward, and is guided to the branch path 333. The medal M guided to the branch passage 333 slides down the bottom surface 341 of the branch passage 333 by its own weight and jumps out from the fake medal outlet 336, and is then stored in the fake medal storage box 9 of FIG.

  The actuator 334 is, for example, a rotary solenoid 352 shown in FIG. 12 and is built in the base 224. When the rotary solenoid 352 is not excited, the rotary solenoid 352 is rotated by a built-in spring and holds the deflecting body 332 at the standby position SP via the rotation shaft 339. When the rotary solenoid 352 is excited, the deflecting body 332 is moved to the deflecting position DP. The rotary solenoid 352 is driven by a solenoid drive signal SDS from the distribution control unit 351 in FIG. That is, it is excited based on the genuine medal signal TS from the authenticity discrimination device 24 and the timing signal TMS from the timing signal output device 290, moves the deflecting body 332 to the deflecting position DP, and is demagnetized after a predetermined time, The deflecting body 332 is returned to the standby position SP. When the false medal signal FS continues, it is preferable that the rotary solenoid 352 is not demagnetized and the deflecting position DP is continued to the deflecting body 332. This is to prevent a problem caused by a shift in the movement timing of the deflecting body 332 due to repeated deexcitation.

  Next, the medal passage 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the medal passage 11 has a function of sending the medal M sent out from the sending device 10 (in other words, the medal hopper device 100) to the sorting unit 20. The medal passage 11 is a box shape having a rectangular cross section, and extends from the outlet 191 of the medal hopper device 100 toward the second retaining bowl 211 of the sorting unit 20 as shown in FIG. The entrance 11 a of the medal passage 11 is disposed relative to the outlet 191 of the medal hopper device 100 and can receive the medal M sent out from the medal hopper device 100. The outlet 11b of the medal passage 11 is disposed above the receiving opening 212 of the second storage bowl 211 of the sorting unit 20, and the medal M discharged from the outlet 11b can be received in the second storage bowl 211. The medal M ejected by the ejecting device 106 of the medal hopper device 100 is introduced from the outlet 191 to the inlet 11a of the medal passage 11 and proceeds through the medal passage 11 by the inertial force and is discharged from the outlet 11b. The released medal M is received in the second holding bowl 211 of the sorting unit 20.

  A substantially rectangular opening 12 is formed in the upper surface 11 c of the medal passage 11, and a static eliminator 13 is disposed to face the opening 12. In the present embodiment, the static eliminator 13 is a static eliminator brush 14 that is fixed to the medal passage 11 by an attachment portion (not shown) and that is electrically grounded. A brush tip (not shown) of the static elimination brush 14 protrudes into the medal passage 11 through the opening 12. When the protruding brush tip comes into contact with the medal M moving in the medal passage 11, the medal M charged in the medal hopper device 100 is discharged. By supplying the medals M thus neutralized to the sorting unit 20, the electrical operation of the sorting unit 20 can be further stabilized. In other words, the malfunction of the medal sorting device 1 is effectively prevented. Further, since the neutralizing brush 14 is attached to the medal passage 11, it can be easily replaced even when the neutralizing brush 14 is worn, and the neutralizing effect is maintained by replacing the neutralizing brush 14. In other words, maintenance is easy.

  Next, the control device 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the control device 30 includes an input / output control unit 401, a sorting / counting control unit 402, and a distribution control unit 351.

  First, the input / output control unit 401 will be described. The input / output control unit 401 has a function of receiving the operation signal OPS from the operation button 6, outputting the display signal DPS to the display 5, and displaying various information on the display 5. Further, the input / output control unit 401 has a function of outputting information related to the operation included in the operation signal OPS to the selection counting control unit 402.

  The sorting and counting control unit 402 outputs motor control signals MCS1 and MCS2 to the first electric motor 110 of the sending device 10 (that is, the medal hopper device 100) and the second electric motor 241 of the sorting unit 20, respectively. 2 Has a function of starting and stopping the electric motors 110 and 241. In other words, it has a function of controlling the operations of the delivery device 10 and the sorting unit 20. Further, the number of medals M sent out from the medal hopper device 100 is counted based on the medal detection signal DS supplied from the medal detection device 108, and the genuine medal signal TS and the fake medal signal FS supplied from the authenticity determination device 24. Based on the number of genuine medals and the number of fake medals.

  As described above, the distribution control unit 351 has a function of controlling the operation of the rotary solenoid 352.

(Operation)
The medal sorting device 1 of this embodiment has two counting modes with different sorting counting operations. That is, in the counting mode, the “ordinary counting mode” in which all the medals M stored in the first holding bowl 103 of the sending apparatus 10 are selected and counted, and the selected number of genuine medals are selected and counted. There is a “batch counting mode” that stops counting. By using the operation button 6 of the operation panel 4, one of “normal count mode” and “batch count mode” can be selected. As long as the count mode is not changed by the operation button 6, the set count mode is valid. The set counting mode is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) of the control device 30 and is effective even when the power is turned on again after the power is turned off. In this embodiment, the preset count mode (in other words, the default count mode) is the “normal count mode”.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the medal sorting device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 15, it is determined in step S1 whether or not there is a change in the counting mode. If there is a change in the counting mode, the process proceeds to step S2, and if there is no change in the counting mode, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the changed counting mode is a batch counting mode. When the changed counting mode is the batch counting mode, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether or not there is an input of the designated number Nb of genuine medals to be selected. If there is an input of the designated number Nb, after the designated number Nb is set in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5. If the designated number Nb is not input, step S3 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the input waiting state for the designated number Nb is entered.

  If the changed counting mode is not the batch counting mode in step S2, the process proceeds to step S5. In other words, when the changed counting mode is the normal counting mode in step S2, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, it is determined whether or not to start sorting counting. The start of sorting counting is instructed by pressing a predetermined operation button 6. When the start of the sorting count is instructed, the process proceeds to step S6, and the sorting count is executed. When the start of the sorting count is not instructed, the process returns to step S1 and steps S1 to S5 are repeatedly executed. In other words, the counting mode can be changed until the start of sorting counting is instructed.

  In step S6, the selection counting in either the normal counting mode or the batch counting mode is executed by the steps shown in FIGS. After execution of the selection count in step S6, the process returns to step S1. In other words, the counting mode can be changed and re-executed in the same counting mode.

  16 and 17, in the first step S11, the second electric motor 241 of the sorting unit 20 is started. In other words, the sorting unit 20 is activated.

  In the next step S12, initialization is performed. That is, “0” is set for each of the total supply number Nt of medals M sent out from the sending device 10, the genuine medal number Ntm selected as a true medal in the selection unit 20, and the false medal number Nfm selected as a fake medal. The Further, “3 seconds” is set as the interval time ti, and “0” is set as the retry number Cr and the remaining interval time tir.

  The delivery device 10 is operated intermittently by repeating the operation and the non-operation. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, there are a plurality of operating times Ts1, Ts2, Ts3,... Separated by a predetermined non-operating time (here, referred to as interval time) ti. The total number of supplied sheets Nt is the total number of medals M sent out from the sending device 10 at the current time after the sorting count is started. The interval remaining time tir is the remaining time until the interval time ti is reached when the sending apparatus 10 is not operated. In other words, the remaining interval time tir is a time “ti−tsp” obtained by subtracting the elapsed time tsp after the non-operation of the sending apparatus 10 from the interval time ti. The retry number Cr will be described later.

  In the next step S13, it is determined whether or not the interval remaining time tir is “0”. When the remaining interval time til is “0” (that is, when “tir = 0”), the process proceeds to step S14, and when the remaining interval time til is not “0” (that is, when “tir ≠ 0”). Proceed to step S22 of FIG. In other words, if the interval time ti ends and the delivery device 10 is in an operating state, the process proceeds to step S14. If the delivery device 10 is in an inoperative state during the interval time ti, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In the next step S14, it is determined whether or not the counting mode is a batch counting mode. When it is in the batch counting mode, the process proceeds to step S15, and when it is not in the batch counting mode (that is, in the normal counting mode), the process proceeds to step S19.

  In the next step S15, it is determined whether or not the genuine medal number Ntm is less than the designated number Nb set in step S4 of FIG. When the genuine medal number Ntm is less than the specified number Nb (that is, when “Nb> Ntm”), the process proceeds to step S16. That is, setting of the set supply number Ns in steps S16 to S28, setting of the current supply number Nc in step S20, and activation of the first electric motor 110 in step S21 are not executed. On the other hand, if the genuine medal number Ntm is greater than or equal to the specified number Nb (ie, “Nb ≦ Ntm”), the process proceeds to step S22 in FIG.

  In the next step S16, a value obtained by subtracting the genuine medal number Ntm from the designated number Nb is set as the set supply number Ns. The set supply number Ns is an upper limit value of the number of medals sent out from the sending device 10 (that is, supplied to the second holding bowl 211) at each operation time Ts1, Ts2, Ts3,.

  In the next step S17, it is determined whether or not the set supply sheet number Ns exceeds the maximum supply sheet number Nm. The maximum supply number Nm is the number of medals set appropriately within a range not exceeding the capacity of the second storage bowl 211, and is set to prevent the second storage bowl 211 from overflowing. When the set supply number Ns exceeds the maximum supply number Nm (that is, when “Ns> Nm”), in the next step S18, the maximum supply number Nm is set as the set supply number Ns. When the set supply number Ns is equal to or less than the maximum supply number Nm (that is, when “Ns ≦ Nm”), the process proceeds to step S20. In other words, the set supply number Ns is maintained as it is. In this embodiment, the capacity of the second storage bowl 211 is about 100 sheets, and the maximum supply number Nm is set to 50 sheets. This is to completely prevent overflow.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the batch count mode is not set, the maximum supply number Nm is set as the set supply number Ns in step S19, and then the process proceeds to step S20. This is because there is no need to adjust the set supply number Ns in the normal counting mode.

  In step S20 executed subsequent to step S18 or step S19, “0” is set to the current supply number Nc. The current supply number Nc is the current number of medals sent from the sending device 10 in each operation time Ts1, Ts2, Ts3,.

  In the next step S21, the first electric motor 110 is started. In other words, the sending device 10 (that is, the medal hopper device 100) is operated in step S21.

  Next, in step S22 shown in FIG. 17, each step shown in FIG. 18 is executed, and the number of supplied medals M is counted. That is, in step S41, it is determined whether or not the medal detection signal DS is output from the medal detection device 108 of the sending device 10. When the medal detection signal DS is output, “1” is added to the current supply number Nc and the total supply number Nt in step S42, and the process returns to step S22 in FIG. In other words, when the medal detection signal DS is output, the current supply number Nc and the total supply number Nt are counted (counted up) in step S42. If the medal detection signal DS is not output in step S41, the process returns to step S22 in FIG.

  In the next step S23 in FIG. 17, each step shown in FIG. 19 is executed, and the number of selected medals M is counted. That is, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the genuine medal signal TS or the false medal signal FS is output from the authenticity determination device 24 of the sorting unit 20. When the genuine medal signal TS or the false medal signal FS is output, it is determined in step S52 whether or not it is the genuine medal signal TS. If it is the genuine medal signal TS, “1” is added to the genuine medal number Ntm in step S53. If it is not the genuine medal signal TS (that is, in the case of the false medal signal FS), “1” is added to the number of false medals Nfm in step S54. In other words, if the authenticity determination device 24 determines the medal M and the genuine medal signal TS is output, the authentic medal number Ntm is counted in steps S52 and S53, and if the false medal signal FS is output, the step S52 is performed. In S54, the number of false medals Nfm is counted. After executing steps S53 and S54, the process returns to step S23 in FIG.

  In the next step S24 in FIG. 17, it is determined in step S23 whether or not the number of sheets selected for a predetermined time is not counted. If there is no count of the selected number, the process proceeds to step S31, and if there is a count of the selected number, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, it is determined whether or not the batch counting mode is set. In the case of the batch counting mode, the process proceeds to step S26, and when not in the batch counting mode (that is, in the case of the normal counting mode), the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S26, it is determined whether or not the genuine medal number Ntm counted in step S23 is greater than or equal to the specified number Nb. If the number is greater than or equal to the designated number Nb (that is, if “Ntm ≧ Ns”), the second electric motor 241 is stopped in step S35, the first electric motor 110 is stopped in the next step S35, and then the step of FIG. Return to S6. In other words, when the genuine medal number Ntm reaches the designated number Nb, the operations of the sorting unit 20 and the sending device 10 are stopped, and the sorting count in step S6 is finished.

  If the genuine medal number Ntm is less than the designated number Nb in step S26 (ie, “Ntm <Nb”), it is determined in step S27 whether the remaining interval time til is “0”. When the remaining interval time til is “0” (that is, when “tir = 0”), the process proceeds to step S28, and when the remaining interval time til is not “0” (that is, when “tir ≠ 0”). Returning to step S13 of FIG. In other words, if the interval time ti is over and the delivery device 10 is in the activated state, the process proceeds to step S28, and if the delivery device 10 is inoperative during the interval time ti, the process returns to step S13.

  When returning from step S27 to step S13, since the remaining interval time til is not “0”, steps S22 to S24 are executed after step S13. If the number of selected sheets is counted in step S23, steps S25 to S27 are executed. That is, in a non-operating state of the delivery device 10, it is determined in step S24 that the number of selected sheets has not been counted for a predetermined time (in other words, all medals M stored in the second holding bowl 211 of the selecting unit 20 are all stored). Steps S13 and S22 to S27 are repeatedly executed until it is determined in step S26 that the genuine medal number Ntm is equal to or greater than the specified number Nb.

  In step S28, it is determined whether or not the current supply number Nc is equal to the set supply number Ns. When the current supply number Nc is equal to the set supply number Ns (that is, when “Nc = Ns”), after the first electric motor 110 is stopped in step S29, the interval time ti is set to the interval remaining time tir in step S30. Is set. In other words, when the sending device 10 sends out the set supply number Ns of medals M, the sending device 10 is deactivated and the remaining interval time til is set to “3 seconds”. Thereafter, the process returns to step S13 in FIG.

  When returning from step S30 to step S13, since “3” is set for the remaining interval time tir, steps S14 to S21 are executed after step S13. In other words, after the set supply sheet number Ns and the current supply sheet number Nc are reset, the first electric motor 110 is started and the delivery device 10 is operated. In other words, in the delivery device 10, the next operation time Ts1, Ts2, Ts3,.

  If the current supply number Nc is not equal to the set supply number Ns in step S28 (that is, if “Nc ≠ Ns”), the process returns to step S22, and steps S22 to S27 are repeatedly executed. In other words, steps S22 to S27 are repeatedly executed until the sending device 10 sends out the set supply number Ns of medals M.

  In step S31, which is executed when the number of sheets selected for the predetermined time is not counted in step S24, the first electric motor 110 is stopped. In other words, the delivery device 10 is deactivated.

  In the next step S32, “1” is added to the retry number Cr, and the interval time ti is set as the remaining interval time tir. In other words, the number of retries Cr is counted up, and the remaining interval time tir is reset to “3 seconds”.

  In the next step S33, it is determined whether or not the retry number Cr is equal to “3”. When the retry number Cr is equal to “3” (that is, when “Cr = 3”), the process proceeds to step S34, and when the retry number Cr is not equal to “3” (that is, when “Cr ≠ 3”). Returning to step S13 of FIG.

  When returning from step S33 to step S13, since “3” is set to the interval remaining time til in step S32, steps S22 to S24 are executed after step S13. If the number of selected sheets is not counted in step S23, steps S31 to S33 are executed. Therefore, when the number of selected sheets is not counted for a predetermined time, steps S13, S22 to S24, and S31 to S33 are repeatedly executed until the retry number Cr reaches “3”. That is, the retry number Cr is the number of times that the selection count is repeatedly executed when the sending device 10 is in an inoperative state.

  When the retry number Cr is equal to “3” in step S33, after the above-described steps S34 and S35 are executed, the process returns to step S6 in FIG. In other words, when the number of retries Cr exceeds a predetermined number, the operations of the sorting unit 20 and the sending device 10 are stopped, and the sorting count in step S6 is completed.

  Next, a specific example of the operation of the medal sorting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, with reference to FIG. 20A, the batch count mode in which the designated number Nb is “200” will be described.

  In the first operation time Ts1, “50” of the maximum supply number Nm is set to the set supply number Ns in step S16 of FIG. 16, and 50 medals M are sent out from the sending device 10, and the second holding of the sorting unit 20 is performed. It is supplied to the bowl 211. Of the 50 medals M, 48 are selected as genuine medals and two are selected as false medals. Also in the next operation time Ts2, since the maximum supply number Nm “50” is set as the set supply number Ns, 50 medals M are sent out from the sending device 10, and 47 of them are selected as genuine medals. Three are selected as fake medals. Similarly, at the operation times Ts3 and Ts4, 50 medals M are sent out from the sending device 10 respectively, 49 and 48 of them are selected as genuine medals, and 1 and 2 are selected as fake medals, respectively. Is done. At this time, the total supply number Nt is 200, the genuine medal number Ntm is 192, and the false medal number Nfm is 8.

  In the next operation time Ts5, the number “8” obtained by subtracting the genuine medal number Ntm (Ntm = 192) from the designated number Nb (Nb = 200) is set to the set supply number Ns in step S16, and eight sheets are sent from the sending device 10. Medals M are sent out. Six of them are selected as genuine medals and two are selected as fake medals. At this time, the total supplied number Nt is 208, the genuine medal number Ntm is 198, and the fake medal number Nfm is 10.

  In the next operation time Ts6, the number “2” obtained by subtracting the genuine medal number Ntm (Ntm = 198) from the designated number Nb (Nb = 200) is set to the set supply number Ns in step S16. Medals M are sent out. Two of them are selected as genuine medals. In this way, 200 genuine medals are selected and counted, and the counting is stopped. At this time, the total supply number Nt is 210, the genuine medal number Ntm is 200, and the false medal number Nfm is 10. Note that when the sorting count is executed again, it becomes possible by pressing a predetermined operation button 6 on the operation panel 4.

  Next, the normal counting mode will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that 210 medals M are stored in the first holding bowl 103 of the delivery device 10.

  In the first operation time Ts1, “50” of the maximum supply number Nm is set to the set supply number Ns in step S19 of FIG. 16, and 50 medals M are sent out from the sending device 10 and the second holding of the sorting unit 20 is performed. It is supplied to the bowl 211. Of the 50 medals M, 48 are selected as genuine medals and two are selected as false medals. Similarly, at the operation times Ts2, Ts3, and Ts4, 50 medals M are sent out from the sending device 10, and 47, 49, and 48 of them are selected as genuine medals, respectively, 3, 1, 2 sheets

Are selected as fake medals. At this time, the total supply number Nt is 200, the genuine medal number Ntm is 192, and the false medal number Nfm is 8.

  In the next operation time Ts5, the maximum supply number Nm “50” is set as the set supply number Ns in step S19, but the remaining number of medals M stored in the first holding bowl 103 is ten. Then, ten medals M are sent out from the sending device 10, of which eight are selected as genuine medals and two are selected as fake medals. In this way, the sorting count of all 210 medals M stored in the first holding bowl 103 is completed.

  As described above, in the medal sorting device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sending device 10, the alignment supply device 21, the moving device 22, the imaging device 23, the authenticity determination device 24, the sorting device 25, and the control device 30 are provided. Prepare. The medals M stored in the first holding bowl 103 of the sending device 10 are separated one by one by the sending device 10 and sent out. The medals M sent out from the sending device 10 are supplied to the second holding bowl 211 of the aligning and supplying device 21 and temporarily held, and are sorted one by one by the aligning and supplying device 21 and sent out to the moving path 274 of the medals M. The medals M sent out from the alignment supply device 21 are moved along the movement path 274 by the movement device 22. In the movement path 274, the medal M is imaged by the imaging device 23 to acquire image information, and the authenticity determination device 24 determines the authenticity of the medal M based on the acquired image information. The determined number of authentic medals Ntm is counted by the control device 30, and the medal M moving along the movement path 274 is assigned to the genuine medal exit 335 and the fake medal exit by the distribution device 25 based on the determination result of the authenticity determination device 24. 336. Then, the controller 30 adjusts the set supply number Ns supplied from the sending device 10 to the second holding bowl 211 in accordance with the counted number of genuine medals Ntm. Therefore, if the set supply number Ns is adjusted so that the number Ntm of genuine medals to be paid out does not exceed the designated number Nb, the genuine medals of the designated number Nb can be paid out accurately. In addition, if the alignment supply device 21, the movement device 22, and the delivery device 10 are individually operated, it is possible to pay out the specified number Nb of genuine medals without stopping the alignment supply device 21 and the movement device 22. The processing speed does not decrease due to the stop of the alignment supply device 21 and the moving device 22. Therefore, the specified number Nb of genuine medals can be paid out accurately without causing a decrease in processing speed.

  Moreover, if the capacity | capacitance of the 1st storage bowl 103 is changed, the process capacity | capacitance of the medal sorting device 1 whole can be changed, without changing the capacity | capacitance of the 2nd storage bowl 211. FIG. Moreover, since only the delivery device 10 needs to be replaced with the medal hopper device 100 having the first storage bowl 103 having a desired capacity, the change is relatively easy. Therefore, various specifications from small capacity to large capacity can be easily handled.

  Further, since the medal M is supplied to the second holding bowl 211 via the sending device 10, foreign matters such as dust attached to the medal M are reduced when passing through the sending device 10. As a result, the cleaning cycle of the imaging device 23 becomes longer, and the maintainability is improved.

  The delivery device 10 is intermittently operated by the control device 30 and the set supply number Ns is set for each intermittent operation of the delivery device 10. Therefore, even if the medal sending speed of the sending device 10 is higher than the medal sending speed of the aligning and feeding device 21, the overflow in the second holding bowl 211 can be prevented if the non-operation time is set to an appropriate value. Thereby, since the capacity | capacitance of the 2nd storage bowl 211 can be made small, the size reduction of the alignment supply apparatus 21 is attained, and the medal sorting apparatus 1 can also be reduced in size.

  The control device 30 obtains the difference (Nb−Ntm) between the genuine medal number Ntm and the designated number Nb for each intermittent operation of the sending device 10, and the set supply is performed when the difference (Nb−Ntm) exceeds the maximum supply number Nm. The number Ns is set to the maximum supply number Nm, and the set supply number Ns is set to the number difference (Nb−Ntm) when the number difference (Nb−Ntm) is equal to or less than the maximum supply number Nm. In other words, until the number difference (Nb−Ntm) becomes equal to or less than the maximum supply number Nm, the maximum supply number Nm of medals M is supplied to the second holding bowl 211, and the number difference (Nb−Ntm) is the maximum supply number Nm. When the number is less than the preset number Ns, the shortage with respect to the designated number Nb is supplied to the second storage bowl 211. Therefore, even when the maximum supply sheet number Nm is large, the set supply sheet number Ns is decreased step by step when the sheet number difference (Nb−Ntm) becomes equal to or less than the maximum supply sheet number Nm. Therefore, the specified number Nb of medals can be paid out accurately, and the number of repetitions of the intermittent operation is reduced and the processing speed is increased.

  When the determination of the medal M by the authenticity determination device 24 is not performed for a predetermined time, the determination of the medal M is performed in the non-operating state of the sending device 10. Therefore, even if medals M remain in the second holding bowl 211 and the movement path 274, the remaining medals M are reliably determined, so that the designated number Nb of genuine medals Ntm is more accurately paid out. be able to.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the medal hopper device 100 is used as the sending device 10, but it may be replaced with another device having the same function. The same applies to the alignment supply device 21 and the moving device 22.

  Further, although the authenticity of the medal M is determined based on the image information acquired by the imaging device 23, the present invention is also applicable when determining the authenticity of the medal based on information other than the image information. .

  Further, the control device 30 counts the number of genuine medals Ntm and the number of false medals Nfm based on the genuine medal signal TS and the fake medal signal FS output from the true / false discriminating device 24, but other counting devices are used. It is also possible to count the genuine medal number Ntm and the false medal number Nfm. For example, a medal detection device may be installed in the vicinity of the genuine medal exit 335 and the fake medal exit 336.

  In the above embodiment, the medal sorting device 1 has been described, but it is of course possible to apply it to a coin sorting device.

  The present invention is suitable for a medal sorting device used in a game field or the like. In particular, the present invention can be suitably used for a medal sorting device that has a function of eliminating false medals such as other store medals and sorting a predetermined number of genuine medals.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal selection apparatus 2 Case 2a Upper surface 2b Bottom surface 2c Front surface 2d Rear surface 2e Right side surface 2f Left side surface 3 Medal insertion slot 3a Opening 4 Operation panel 5 Display 6 Operation button 7 Discharge chute cover 8 True medal dispensing chute 8a For storing bag installation Ring 9 Fake medal storage box 10 Sending device 11 Medal passage 11a Inlet 11b Outlet 11c Upper surface 12 Opening 13 Neutralizing device 14 Neutralizing brush 20 Sorting unit 21 Alignment supply device 22 Moving device 23 Imaging device 24 Authenticity discriminating device 25 Sorting device 26 Discrimination Means 30 Control device 100 Medal hopper device 101 Frame 102 Base 103 First retaining bowl 104 Rotating disk 105 Circumferential guide device 105A First restriction body 105B Second restriction body 106 Ejection device 107 Exit passage 108 Medal detection device 109 Exit passage definition device 110 First Electric Pneumatic motor 111 Lower end base part 112 Support part 121 Upper surface 122 Guide hole 122a Bottom surface 123A, 123B First attachment part 124A, 124B Second attachment part 125 Outlet opening 126 Attachment part 127 Rotating shaft 128 Peripheral wall 131 Lower end part 132 Upper end part 133 Upper opening 134 Bottom hole 141 Through-hole 142 Introduction part 143 Central convex part 144 Rib 145 First pushing part 146 Second pushing part 161 First guide 162 Second guide 163 Energizing means 164 Guide body 164a Arc-shaped end part 165 Support shaft 166 Roller 167 Support shaft 168 Swing lever 171 Concave groove 172 Exit passage defining guide 173 Bottom surface 181 Acting piece 182 Detection device 191 Exit 211 Second retaining bowl 212 Receiving opening 213 Circular hole 221 Delivery device 222 Through hole 223 Rotating disk 224 Base 225 Base 226 Guide body 23 First circular hole 232 Rotating shaft 233 Stirring portion 234 Extruding protrusion 235, 236 Restriction pin 237 Communication path 238 Roller 241 Second electric motor 242 Transmission mechanism 243 Imaging device base 252 Other portion base 253 Opening 253 having a roughly rectangular shape Opening 254 Airflow hole 261 Moving body 262 Rotating body 263A, 263B, 263C Pushing lever 264 Rotating shaft 265 Rotating path 266 Edge upper surface 267A, 267B, 267C Receiving recess 268 Peripheral part 269 Central part 271 Second circular hole 271 Arc-shaped guide Surface 272 Arc-shaped guide surface 273 Concave groove 274 Movement path (movement path)
275 Exit 281 Main body 282 Camera 283 Projection device 284 Imaging surface 285 Glass plate 286 Timing signal generation device 287 Disc 288 First timing sensor 289 Second timing sensor 290 Timing signal output device 291 Timing signal output circuits 292A, 292B, 292C Reference Through-hole 293 Dividing through-hole 294 Light projecting unit 295 Light receiving unit 296 Light projecting unit 297 Light receiving unit 301 Acquired image information device 302 Reference image information device 303 Comparator 304 Discriminator 311 Moving device 321 Cleaning device 322 Wiping body 331 Downward inertial movement Passage 332 Displacement body 333 Branch passage 334 Actuator 335 Authentic medal outlet 336 Fake medal outlet 337 Bottom 338 Sorting opening 339 Rotating shaft 340 Guide 341 Bottom 351 Sorting control unit 352 Rotary solenoid 401 Input / output control unit 402 Sorting counting control unit C1 First concentric circle C2 Second concentric circle M Medal CS Count signal SS Reference signal TMS Timing signal PS Projection signal DS Medal detection signal TS True medal signal FS False medal signal DPS Display signal MCS1, MCS2 Motor control signal OPS Operation signal SDS Solenoid drive signal Cr Retry number Nb Specified number Nc Current supply number Nfm False medal number Nm Maximum supply number Ns Set value Supply number Ns Set supply number Nt Total supply number Ntm True medal number ti Interval time til Interval remaining time Ts2, Ts3, Ts4 Operation time tsp Elapsed time after non-operation

Claims (5)

The authenticity of the medal (M) is discriminated and selected as a genuine medal and a fake medal, and the selected authentic medals are counted, and the selection and counting are stopped each time the designated number (Nb) of authentic medals are counted. A medal sorting device having a batch counting function for paying out the specified number (Nb) of genuine medals,
A delivery device (10) for separating and sending out medals (M) stored in the first holding bowl (103) one by one;
The medal (M) supplied from the sending device (10) is temporarily held in the second holding bowl (211), and the temporarily held medals (M) are classified one by one to An alignment supply device (21) for feeding to the movement path (274);
A moving device (22) that moves the medals (M) sent out from the alignment supply device (21) along the moving path (274);
Medal discrimination means (26) for discriminating the authenticity of the medal (M) in the travel route (274);
Based on the determination result of the medal determination means (26), the distribution of distributing the medal (M) moving along the movement route (274) to either the genuine medal exit (335) or the false medal exit (336). A device (25);
Control for adjusting the number of supplied medals (Ns) supplied from the sending device (10) to the second holding bowl (211) according to the number of genuine medals (Ntm) determined by the medal determining means (26). A medal sorting device comprising: a device (30);   2. The control device (30) operates the delivery device (10) intermittently and repeatedly operates and deactivates, and sets the number of supplied medals (Ns) for each intermittent operation of the delivery device (10). The medal sorting device described in 1.   The control device (30) obtains the number difference (Nb−Ntm) between the genuine medal number (Ntm) and the designated number (Nb) for each intermittent operation of the sending device (10), and the number difference (Nb) -Ntm) exceeds the predetermined value (Nm), the supply medal number (Ns) is set to the predetermined value (Nm), and the difference (Nb-Ntm) is less than the predetermined value (Nm). 3. The medal sorting device according to claim 2, wherein the number of supplied medals (Ns) is set to the number difference (Nb−Ntm).   The medal sorting device according to claim 3, wherein when the medal discrimination means (26) does not discriminate the medal (M) for a predetermined time, the medal discrimination is executed in a non-operating state of the sending device (10). .   The medal discrimination means (26) images the medal (M) moving along the movement path (274) and acquires image information, and the image acquired by the imaging device (23). The medal sorting device according to claim 4, further comprising: a discriminating device (24) for discriminating the authenticity of the medal (M) based on the information.

Images