JP3241578B2 - Coin sorting counter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorting and counting apparatus for sorting and counting coins by denomination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a coin sorting and counting device for separating coins inserted one by one and sorting and counting them by denomination, there is one disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-43670. This coin sorting and counting device includes a discriminating unit (counting means) for discriminating and counting the denomination of coins fed to a coin transport path (coin sorting path), and a denomination, Sorting holes (sorting slots) provided according to the order of smaller diameters; and a pass sensor (magnetic sensor) provided near the upstream side of each of the sorting holes in the coin conveying direction and detecting passage of the conveyed coins. Sensors), and the total value counted by the downstream pass sensor from the count value counted by the upstream pass sensor among the adjacent pass sensors by the determination unit. A comparison is made between the count values of the coins of each denomination, which are obtained by subtracting the numerical values, to check the count value and determine whether there is misselection.

[0003]

In the coin sorting and counting apparatus, when a conveyance failure such as a jam or a sorting error occurs on a coin conveyance path during the processing, the processing is stopped and the conveyance of the coin is immediately stopped. However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, if this conveyance is stopped during the sorting and counting process,
A coin on the coin transport path stops before reaching the sorting hole according to the denomination, or is provided according to the sorting hole of another denomination without reaching the sorting hole according to the denomination. Stopped in the state where it was detected by the passing sensor, or remained on the coin transport path without falling into the sorting hole while being detected by the passing sensor provided in accordance with the sorting hole for the denomination. And so on. Therefore, when such a stop occurs, the detection result of each pass sensor becomes inaccurate, and the sorting and counting process cannot be performed continuously, and the sorting and counting process of all coins is performed again. There was a problem that had to be.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently performing a subsequent sorting and counting process even if a transport failure occurs on the coin transport path during the sorting and counting process and the transport is stopped. An object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorting and counting device which can be assured.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a coin transport path into which coins are separated and fed one by one, and a coin transport path for transporting coins on the coin transport path. And a detecting unit for detecting coins on the coin transport path and detecting detection data for determining the denomination thereof, and a coin provided on the coin transport path on the downstream side in the coin transport direction from the detector. Are arranged along the coin transport direction on the downstream side in the coin transport direction from the reject portion of the coin transport path, and the coins of the corresponding denominations are sorted and dropped. Sorting holes for each denomination to be made, a passage sensor provided on the upstream side of each sorting hole for detecting coins, and whether the coins detected by the detection unit are circulation coins or not. And a control unit for determining the denomination based on the detection data when the coin is a circulation coin and not a circulation coin, and removing the coin from the coin transport path by the reject unit. Detecting means for detecting a coin is provided between a reject portion of the coin conveying path and a sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin conveying direction, and the control section detects the passage of the coin by the detecting means. Determining the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit, updating the stored value of the number of coins of the denomination already stored to a value obtained by adding 1, and storing the updated value. It is characterized by. Thus, the control unit detects the detection data detected by the detection unit every time the detection unit provided between the reject part of the coin conveyance path and the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin conveyance direction detects the passage of the coin. The denomination of the coin determined based on is determined,
The count value of the number of coins of the denomination already stored is updated to a value obtained by adding 1, and stored. Therefore, if a conveyance failure occurs on the coin conveyance path during the sorting and counting process and the conveyance is stopped, the coins passing through the detecting means are denominated and counted because the denomination is determined. For coins that have been manually dropped into the corresponding sorting holes and have not passed through the detection means, the denomination has not been determined and the counting has not been performed. There is no need to repeat the sorting and counting process for all coins.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the first aspect, the detecting means is a passage sensor provided upstream of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction. Thus, the detecting means can be used also as the passage sensor, so that it is not necessary to separately provide the detecting means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A coin sorting and counting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This coin sorting and counting device is provided rotatably in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, and a rotating disk 11 that stores coins inserted through a deposit opening (not shown) and discharges them by centrifugal force during rotation,
A deposit transport path (coin transport path) 12 in which coins released from the rotating disk 11 are separated one by one and fed onto a transport surface 12a, and a transport surface 12a of the deposit transport path 12 connected to the deposit transport path 12 Reject gate 13 from which coins are transferred to transfer surface 13a, and sorting which is connected to reject gate 13 and transfers coins from transfer surface 13a of reject gate 13 to transfer surface 14a and sorts the coins by denomination. A passage (coin transport path) 14 and coins fed from the rotating disk 11 are used to transfer the coins from the deposit transport path 12, the reject gate 13, and the transport surfaces 12a, 1 of the sorting path 14.
Coin transporter 15 transports at a predetermined speed on 3a, 14a
(See FIG. 2) and a control unit 16 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the operation of the coin sorting and counting device. In the following description, upstream and downstream refer to upstream and downstream in the coin transport direction.

[0008] The deposit transfer path 12 has a central transfer surface 12.
a is disposed horizontally, and at one side edge of the transfer surface 12a, a stepped wall portion 17 is provided over the entire surface where surfaces 17a along the vertical direction are opposed to each other. After being arranged substantially along the direction, the direction is changed by a little over 90 °. A coin on the transfer surface 12a is detected on the transfer surface 12a of the deposit transfer path 12, and the authenticity of the coin is detected (true is a circulated coin circulated in Japan, false is a non-circulated coin not circulated in Japan). Detects data to determine the denomination of true coins (other than coins), damage (those that are true and has no deformation, loss is true and has deformation, etc.) and true coins Detector 22
Is provided.

The detection unit 22 is connected to the control unit 16 and includes a magnetic sensor 25 disposed on the rotating disk 11 and a line sensor 26 on the opposite side. The magnetic sensor 25 detects the magnetic properties of the coins conveyed on the deposit conveyance path 12 depending on the material. Although not shown, for example, a primary coil that forms a magnetic field by passing a high-frequency alternating current And a secondary coil in which a current is generated by the magnetic field. The control unit 16 detects the material, that is, the denomination when the coin is true or false, based on the magnetic data composed of the current value, utilizing that the current generated in the secondary coil when the coin approaches the coin differs depending on the material of the coin. I do.

A line sensor 26 includes a plurality of light receiving elements (not shown), which are arranged at equal pitches in a direction perpendicular to the coin transport direction of the deposit transport path 12, and faces the light receiving elements above the deposit transport path 12 and A plurality of light emitting elements (not shown) arranged in a large number in parallel at equal pitches, and when the coins on the deposit carrying path 12 are positioned vertically above the light receiving elements, a part of the light emitted from the light emitting elements Is blocked by the coin, and the light receiving element is in a non-light receiving state. Thus, the coin is detected based on the light receiving / non-light receiving data of such a light receiving element. And the control unit 1
In 6, for example, the most distant state in which the non-light-receiving states are simultaneously set between the time when all the light-receiving elements are in the light-receiving state and the time when any of the light-receiving elements is in the non-light-receiving state and again when all the light-receiving elements are in the light-receiving state The outer diameter of the coin is detected from the distance between the light receiving elements. The magnetic data and the light reception / non-light reception data described above serve as detection data of the detection unit 22.

Here, the line sensor 26 is operated from the time when any one of the light receiving elements in the light receiving state becomes non-light receiving state to the time when all the light receiving elements are again in the light receiving state due to the passage of one coin. Coin transport unit 1
It is also used to calculate the transport direction diameter data of the coin transport direction by multiplying the predetermined transport speed by 5. In order to detect this time, the coins in the transport path 12a are transported with a predetermined interval between adjacent ones. Although not shown, the coins between the detecting unit 22 and the rotating disk 11 are not shown. Is provided with a conveyance pitch adjusting means for providing an interval between coins to be conveyed. The line sensor 26
In this case, only the coin diameter in the direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction is determined. Apart from this, a line connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element is provided near the line sensor 26 along the transport surface 12a and in the coin transport direction. A sensor may be arranged so as to be orthogonal, and the diameter data of the coin in the transport direction of the coin may be obtained from the time when the sensor is in the non-light receiving state by the coin and the transport speed of the coin transport unit 15.

The magnetic sensor 25 and the line sensor 26 are provided close to each other. For example, the timing at which one of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 detects a coin, that is, a line in which all the light receiving elements are in a light receiving state. When magnetic data is taken in from the magnetic sensor 25 at a timing when any of the light receiving elements of the sensor 26 is in the non-light receiving state, the mutual interval is set so that the magnetic sensor 25 detects the magnetic data substantially at the center of the coin. . Thus, the line sensor 26 also functions as a timing sensor for detection of the magnetic sensor 25.

The reject gate 13 is provided with a stepped guide 21 at both side edges of the transfer surface 13a, and is opened and closed according to the result determined by the control unit based on the detection data of the detection unit 22. Transfer path 1 for coins
2 can be eliminated without being transferred to the sorting path 14. That is, the reject gate 13 is
6, a closed state in which the transfer surface 13a is leveled with transfer surfaces 12a and 14a other than the reject gate 13 by a solenoid (not shown) whose driving is controlled,
The switch is switched to an open state in which one end is rocked so as to move downward. In the closed state, coins are passed through as they are and sent to the sorting passage 14, and in the open state, coins are transferred to the deposit transfer path 1.
Drop to remove from 2. A storage box (not shown) is detachably provided below the reject gate 13, and reject coins dropped by the reject gate 13 are inserted into the storage box.
The reject gate 27 and a solenoid (not shown) constitute a reject unit 27 (see FIG. 2).

In the deposit transfer path 12 and the sorting path 14,
In the vicinity of the reject gate 13, the transport surfaces 12a, 14
Travel sensors 28 and 29 for detecting the coins on a are provided, respectively. These traveling sensors 28, 29 are provided with light receiving elements 28a, 2 arranged on one side in the radial direction of the coin.
9a and the line connecting the light receiving elements 28a and 29a
2a, 14a and light emitting elements 28b, 29b arranged on the other side so as to be orthogonal to the coin transport direction. The traveling sensor 28 is a light receiving element 28a in which light emitted from the light emitting element 28b is blocked by coins. By being in the non-light receiving state, the traveling sensor 29 detects the coins by the light emitted from the light emitting element 29b being blocked by the coin and being in the non-light receiving state by the light receiving element 29a.

Next, a description will be given of the sorting path 14 for sorting the deposited coins conveyed through the deposit transport path 12 by denomination. The sorting passage 14 is disposed horizontally so that the center transfer surface 14a is located on an extension of the transfer surface 12a of the deposit transfer path 12 on the reject gate 13 side, and is provided at both side edges of the transfer surface 14a. , Vertical surfaces 31a, 32
a is provided across the entire surface, and one wall 31 is a reference rail for guiding coins conveyed by the coin conveying unit 15 by contacting the peripheral edge thereof. 31. The transfer surface 14a at a position slightly away from the reference rail 31 has
Sorting holes 34 to 39 for respective denominations for selecting and dropping coins of the corresponding denominations from the transport surface 14a sort coins in order of small diameter, that is, 1-yen coin, 50-yen coin, 5-yen coin, 100
The coins are arranged at regular intervals in the coin transport direction so as to drop in the order of yen coins, 10 yen coins, and 500 yen coins.

Here, although not shown, the coin transport section 15 has a lower edge portion of a plurality of endless belts arranged in parallel with a predetermined gap on the transport faces 12a, 13a and 14a. Is pressed from above to move the transport surfaces 12a, 13a, and 14a while sliding them. The coin transport section 15 in the sorting passage 14 has a distance from the reference rail 31 in the coin transport direction. The coins are arranged so as to be gradually narrowed, so that the periphery of the coin is brought into contact with the reference rail 31.

The 1-yen coins sorted and dropped by the sorting hole 34 at the most upstream side of the sorting passage 14 are placed in a recirculating hopper (not shown) for 1-yen coins, and are sorted adjacent to the downstream side of the sorting hole 34. The 50-yen coin sorted and dropped by the hole 35 is transferred to a recirculation hopper (not shown) for 50-yen coin, and the 5-yen coin sorted and dropped by the sorting hole 36 adjacent to the downstream side of the sorting hole 35 is converted into 5 yen. The 100-yen coin sorted and dropped by the sorting hole 37 adjacent to the downstream side of the sorting hole 36 in the recirculating hopper (not shown) for coins is placed in the recirculating hopper (not shown) for 100-yen coin by the sorting hole. The 10-yen coins sorted and dropped by the sorting holes 38 adjacent to the downstream side of the 37 are placed in a recirculation hopper (not shown) for 10-yen coins. For 500 yen coin Reflux type hopper, not shown, are respectively sent.

In the sorting passage 14 at the upstream end of each of the sorting holes 34 to 39, each of the grooves 34a to 39a is provided with a corresponding one of the sorting holes 34.
The light receiving elements 41a to 46a provided below the position of the conveying surface 14a and the light receiving elements 41a to 46a are respectively formed in the grooves 34a to 39a. Transfer surface 1 so as to face
A light-emitting element (not shown) provided above the position 4a. The light emitted from the light-emitting element is blocked by coins, and the light-receiving elements 41a to 46a are in a non-light-receiving state. Sensors 41 to 46 are provided at positions avoiding the passing positions of the coin holes, and each of the sorting holes 34 to 46 is provided.
After the coins which are sorted and dropped by any one of 39 are detected by one of the passage sensors 41 to 46 provided on the upstream side with respect to one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 to be sorted,
You will be dropped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 16 includes a CPU 48 serving as a central processing unit, magnetic data and diameter data of true and positive genuine coins, which serve as references for each denomination, and operation of the apparatus. It is composed of a ROM 49 in which data and the like are stored, and a RAM 50 that stores a count value and the like for each coin denomination.

Next, the control contents of the coin sorting and counting device will be described together with its operation. When an instruction is given by an operator to perform a sorting and counting process in a state where coins are inserted in the rotating disk 11, the control unit 16 rotates the rotating disk 11 and sets the coin transport unit 15 to a predetermined value. The coin is driven to transport coins at a predetermined speed. Then, the coins previously put into the rotating disk 11 are separated one by one by centrifugal force, and are conveyed by the coin conveyance unit 15 so as to move from the deposit conveyance path 12 toward the sorting path 14.

In this way, coins are separated one by one and sequentially conveyed. When attention is paid to one of the detected coins, the detected coin moves onto the line sensor 26, and the light receiving element of the light receiving element is moved. At the time when the detection is started by any one, the control unit 16 assigns a number for distinguishing the detected coin from other coins, for example, in a sequential order in the detection order, and detects magnetic data from the magnetic sensor 25 at that time. A /
D-conversion and the like are stored in the RAM 50 as detected magnetic data in association with the number of the detected coin. On the other hand, detection of the continuously transported detected coin from the start of detection to the point at which it is no longer detected by all light receiving elements. Detecting the time, multiplying the detected time by a predetermined conveying speed of the coin conveying section 15 to calculate the conveying direction diameter data in the conveying direction of the detected coin, and storing the calculated data in the RAM 50 in association with the detected coin number. Further, the distance between the most distant ones of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 that detect the detected coin at the same time within the detection time is the transport orthogonal direction diameter data in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the detected coin. RAM5 associated with the number of the detected coin
0 is stored.

Then, the control unit 16 determines the larger one of the diameter data in the transport direction and the diameter data in the transport direction for the detected coin, and sets the larger one in advance for each denomination.
The reference diameter data stored in the OM 49 is compared with the reference diameter data to select a denomination within an allowable error range of the reference diameter data, and the selected one of the reference magnetic data set in advance for each denomination and stored in the ROM 49 is selected. The reference magnetic data of the denomination and the detected magnetic data relating to the detected coin detected and stored by the magnetic sensor 25 are compared, and further, the diameter data in the transport direction and the diameter data in the transport direction are compared. .

The difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is within a predetermined allowable error range, and the difference between the transport orthogonal direction diameter data and the transport direction diameter data is within a predetermined allowable error range. Then, the denomination of the reference magnetic data is determined to be the denomination of the detected coin, and the denomination is associated with the number of the detected coin along with the fact that the detected coin is a genuine coin. To temporarily memorize. On the other hand, the difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is within a predetermined allowable error range, and the difference between the transport orthogonal direction diameter data and the transport direction diameter data is outside the predetermined allowable error range. For example, the denomination of the reference magnetic data is determined to be the denomination of the detected coin, and the denomination is added to the number of the detected coin together with the fact that the detected coin is a true and genuine loss coin. The information is temporarily stored in the RAM 50 in association with the information. On the other hand, when the difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is outside a predetermined allowable error range,
Or, when the larger one of the transport orthogonal direction diameter data and the transport direction diameter data is not within the allowable error range of the reference diameter data of each denomination, regardless of the other data, the detected coin number is In association with this, the fact that the detected coin is a fake coin is temporarily stored in the RAM 50.

Here, the control section 16 includes a coin transport section 15
If the coins are normally conveyed at the predetermined speed, if the distance is the default, the conveyance time, that is, the movement time of the coin, can be determined. Therefore, such a movement time is preset for each sensor and stored in the ROM 49. I have. In particular,
The first movement time T ₁ from the timing when one coin is detected by one of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 to the timing when detection is started by the travel sensor 28, and one coin is detected by the travel sensor 28. The second movement time T ₂ from the start timing to the timing at which detection is started by the travel sensor 29, from the timing at which one coin is detected by the travel sensor 29 to the timing at which passage of the coin is detected by the pass sensor 41 In the third movement time T ₃ , the fourth movement time T ₄ from the timing when one coin is detected to pass by the passage sensor 41 to the timing when the passage is detected by the passage sensor 42, and one coin is detected by the passage sensor 42. fifth moving time from the timing of passing is detected until the timing when the passage in the passage sensor 43 detects T _5, pass test one coin passage sensor 43 Passage sensor 4 from a timing that is
The sixth movement time T until the passage is detected at 4
_6, 7 moving time T ₇ until the timing at which the passage in the passage sensor 45 detects the timing in which one of the coin is passed through the pass sensor 44 is detected, one coin passage sensor 45
The eighth movement time T8 from the timing at which the passage is detected at the timing to the timing at which the passage is detected by the passage sensor 46 is stored.

The controller 16 is located at a position on the reject gate 13 where the coin whose detection has started is dropped by the opening operation after the timing at which the upstream traveling sensor 28 starts detecting the coin. The reject delay time is obtained by dividing a predetermined moving distance until the movement by the predetermined conveying speed by the coin conveying unit 15. The timing at which the detection of coins is started is a point in time when the state in which a coin is not detected by the sensor is changed to a state in which the coin is detected. At the time when the state has changed from a state where coins are detected to a state where coins are not detected.

When the detection data of the detection unit 22 determines that the detected coin is a fake coin, the control unit 16
After the timing at which detection of the detected coin is started by one of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, the first movement time T ₁
When the detection of coins is started by the upstream traveling sensor 28 after the lapse of T ₁ ± t _{1 including} the predetermined tolerance ± t ₁ , the reject delay time elapses from the start timing of the detection. The reject gate 13 is opened at the timing, and after the reject gate 13 is opened for a time during which the coins are surely dropped, the coin is closed and removed from the transport surface 13a and stored in a storage box (not shown). .

On the other hand, when it is determined from the detection data of the detection unit 22 that the detected coin is a true coin, the control unit 16
After the timing at which the detection coin is started to be detected by one of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, and after the elapse of T1 ± t1 , the detection of the coin is started by the upstream traveling sensor 28, the detection of the coin is started. At the timing after the reject delay time has elapsed from the start timing, the reject gate 13
Is opened, and the reject gate 13 is opened for a time during which the coins are surely dropped, and then closed to remove the coins from the transport surface 13a and store them in a storage box (not shown). At this time, the control unit 16 determines that the coin is the detected coin, and
The denomination determined based on the detection data of No. 2 is determined, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination immediately before, which is already stored in the RAM 50, is updated to a value obtained by adding 1, and stored. At the time when the reject gate 13 is opened, only the coins located on the reject gate 13 are dropped, and the coins located on the upstream side and the downstream side are not dropped. The size and the timing of the opening operation are set.

On the other hand, when it is determined from the detection data of the detection unit 22 that the detected coin is a genuine coin, the control unit 16
After the timing at which the detection coin is started to be detected by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, the detection of the coin is started by the upstream traveling sensor 28 after the elapse of the T ₁ ± t ₁ ,
Subsequently, after a lapse of T ₂ ± t _{2 including} the predetermined allowable error ± t ₂ in the second movement time T ₂ , detection of coins is started by the downstream traveling sensor 29, and subsequently, the third coin is detected. After a lapse of T ₃ ± t _{3 including} the predetermined allowable error ± t ₃ in the movement time T ₃ , the passage sensor 41 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.
When the passage of a coin is detected by the control unit 16, the control unit 16 determines that the coin is the detected coin, and
The denomination determined based on the detection data of No. 2 is determined, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination immediately before already stored in the RAM 50 is updated to a value obtained by adding 1, and stored. In addition,
At this time, the reject gate 13 is kept closed. The coin whose passage is detected by the passage sensor 41 on the most upstream side is further conveyed by the coin conveying unit 15 and dropped from the corresponding one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 to a recirculation hopper (not shown). Will be stored.

[0029] Here, the control unit 16, after the timing detected in any of the light receiving element is the start of the detected coin is a line sensor 26, the detection of the coin in the T ₁ ± t travel sensor 28 after the lapse of ₁ Is started or not, after the lapse of T ₁ ± t ₁ and subsequently after the lapse of T ₂ ± t ₂ ,
In whether the coin detection is started, after the lapse of the T ₂ ± t _2, whether followed by passage in passage sensor 41 of the coin after elapse of the T ₃ ± t ₃ is detected, the T ₃ ± after a t _3, including a predetermined tolerance ± t ₄ in the fourth movement time T ₄ continues T
After the passage of ₄ ± t ₄ , it is determined whether or not the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor 42. After the passage of T 4 ± t ₄ , the fifth moving time T ₅ continues to include the predetermined allowable error ± t ₅ . ₅ whether the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor 43 after a lapse of ± t _5, the T
After a lapse of ₅ ± t ₅ , the passage sensor 44 continues after a lapse of T ₆ ± t _{6 including} a predetermined tolerance ± t ₆ in the sixth movement time T _6.
In whether the passage of the coin is detected, the passage sensor after a lapse of the T ₆ ± t after the _6, followed by a seventh movement time T ₇ to a predetermined tolerance ± t ₇ T ₇ ± t ₇ containing 45 whether the passage of the coin is detected by the passage after a lapse of the T ₇ ± t after a _7, followed by the eighth movement time T ₈ to a predetermined tolerance ± t T ₈ ± t ₈ containing ₈ Among the determinations as to whether or not the sensor 46 has detected the passage of a coin, the detection unit 2
2. A sensor adjacent to the reject gate 13 and any one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 where the detected coin estimated from the result of the determination based on the detection of No. 2 falls downstream. Is determined to be a false coin and a true coin, the traveling sensor 29, and if it is a genuine coin and its denomination is determined, it is adjacent to the selected one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 on the downstream side. Pass sensors 42 to 46
) Are all performed sequentially from the upstream side.
If the detected coin is a 500-yen coin having the maximum diameter, there is no sensor adjacent to the downstream side, and thus the determination up to the passage sensor 46 is performed.

Then, the start or passage of coin detection (in the case where the start of detection is detected by the travel sensor 28, the passage is determined by the passage sensors 41 to 41).
In the case of 46, the same shall apply hereinafter), at the timing after the passage of the corresponding movement time, the sensor adjacent to the falling part on the upstream side (when it is determined that the detected coin is a fake coin and a true coin) Is the travel sensor 28, and if the denomination is a genuine coin, it is detected up to one of the pass sensors 41 to 46 adjacent to the denomination in the sorting holes 34 to 39 on the upstream side with respect to the denomination. If the sensor is not detected by a sensor adjacent to the falling part on the downstream side, it is determined that the falling part has fallen from an appropriate falling part, and the state is maintained. If the detected coin is a 500-yen coin having the maximum diameter, and if the sensor is detected up to the sensor adjacent to the falling portion, it is determined that the coin has been dropped from the proper falling portion, and the state is maintained as it is. .

On the other hand, among the sensors on the upstream side including the sensor adjacent to the falling portion on the upstream side, the start or passage of the coin is not detected at the timing after the lapse of the corresponding movement time. Occurs, it is determined that a conveyance failure such as a jam or poor distribution has occurred, and the rotating disk 11 and the coin conveyance unit 15 are immediately stopped, and it is detected that, for example, the coin has not reached a proper falling portion. The sensor that is not performed is displayed on a display unit (not shown), and an alarm sound is generated by a notifying unit (not shown) as necessary.

In addition, if the start or passage of the coin is detected at the timing after the passage of the corresponding movement time to the sensor adjacent to the falling portion on the downstream side, respectively, the proper falling portion is detected. When it is determined that the coin has not been dropped and has been transported further downstream, the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are immediately stopped, and for example, the fact that the coin has passed an appropriate falling portion and the detection start or passage is detected. The displayed most downstream sensor is displayed on a display unit (not shown), and an alarm sound is generated by a notifying unit (not shown) as necessary. Note that this determination is not performed when the detected coin is a 500-yen coin having the maximum diameter.

More specifically, for example, when the detected coin is determined to be a 100-yen coin, after the timing at which detection of the detected coin is started by one of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, T ₁ ± running after a lapse of t ₁ sensor 28
Whether the detection of coins has been started, and whether the detection of coins has been started by the travel sensor 29 after the lapse of T ₂ ± t ₂ , and the coins detected by the passage sensor 41 after the lapse of T ₃ ± t _3. Or not, the passage of coins is detected by the passage sensor 42 after a lapse of T ₄ ± t ₄ , and the passage of coins by the passage sensor 43 after a lapse of T ₅ ± t ₅ Is detected, and after the passage of T ₆ ± t ₆ , the passage sensor 4
Then, it is determined whether or not the passage of a coin is detected at 4 and whether or not the passage of a coin is detected by the passage sensor 45 after the elapse of T ₇ ± t _7. As a result, the sorting hole for a 100 yen coin is determined. 37
On the other hand, if it is detected to the passage sensor 44 adjacent to the upstream side, and is not detected by the passage sensor 45 adjacent to the downstream side, it is determined that it has fallen from an appropriate falling part, and the state is maintained, Among the upstream sensors including the passing sensor 44 adjacent to the sorting hole 37 for 100-yen coins on the upstream side, the detection start or the passage of the coin is not detected at the timing after the lapse of the corresponding movement time. In this case, and when the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor 45 adjacent to the downstream side, the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are immediately stopped.

In addition, in addition to the above, if the detection of a coin is detected or the passage of a coin is detected at a timing different from the regular timing at which the detection of the detected coin is to be detected, the transport failure may occur. As soon as the rotating disk 11 and the coin transporting unit 15 are stopped immediately, the sensor that has detected the start or the passage of the detection is displayed on a display unit (not shown),
If necessary, an alarm sound is generated by a not-shown notifying unit. The processing for the detected coins as described above is performed for all the coins sequentially sent.

As described above, the controller 16 controls the passage sensor 41
Since the denomination of coins passing through is determined and counting is also performed, the above-described transport failure occurs on the depositing transport path 12, the reject gate 13 or the selective path 14 during the sorting and counting process, and the transport is stopped. If the coin has passed through the passage sensor 41, the operator determines that the denomination has been determined and counting has been performed, and manually inserts the coin into the sorting holes 34 to 39 of the corresponding denomination. For coins that have been dropped and have not passed through the passage sensor 41, that is, coins at the detection position of the passage sensor 41 and coins upstream of the passage sensor 41, it is determined that the denomination has not been determined and counting has not been performed. Thereafter, the coin transport section 15 is returned to the rotating disk 11 by being reversed or manually. Then, the sorting and counting process is restarted by the worker's start instruction again. Then, when an instruction to start the sorting and counting process after such a transport failure is made by the operator, the control unit 16 drives the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 in the forward direction, and the subsequent counting is performed by rotation. The addition to the count value of each denomination when the disc 11 and the coin transporting unit 15 are stopped is continuously performed.

Here, at the time when the conveyance is stopped due to the conveyance failure, the coins which are being detected by the detection unit 22 or which have already been detected and judged and which have not passed through the passage sensor 41, that is, judgments based on the detection data by the detection unit 22. For coins whose denominations have not been determined, the control unit 16 erases the data at the time of stoppage of conveyance or at the time when an instruction to start the sorting and counting process is given again.

In addition, separately from the above, when an instruction to start one sorting and counting process is given by the operator, the control unit 16 allows, for example, the operator to rotate the rotating disk 11 and the transport surface 12.
The number of coins passing through each of the passage sensors 41 to 46 is counted until an operation for instructing the end of the sorting and counting process is performed after confirming that coins are not remaining on a, 13a, and 14a. When the instruction operation for ending the sorting and counting process is performed,
The count value of the pass sensor 42 is calculated by subtracting the count value of the pass sensor 42 from the count value of the pass sensor 41, and the count value of the pass sensor 43 is subtracted from the count value of the pass sensor 42. The counting value of the 50-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 35 is calculated and the counting value of the 5-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 36 is calculated by subtracting the count value of the passing sensor 44 from the counting value of the passing sensor 43. Then, the count value of the pass sensor 45 is subtracted from the count value of the pass sensor 44 to calculate the count value of the 100-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 37, and the count value of the pass sensor 46 is calculated from the count value of the pass sensor 45. The pass sensor 4 calculates the count value of the 10-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 38 by subtraction.
The count value of 6 is used as the count value of the 500 yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 39. Then, the count values of these denominations are stored in a RAM.
The final confirmation processing of comparing the count values of the respective denominations among the count values of the respective denominations based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 stored in 50 is performed, and the count values of all the denominations match. In this case, the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are stopped, and the count value of each denomination is displayed on a display unit (not shown). On the other hand, if the count values of any of the denominations do not match, The rotating disk 11 and the coin transporting unit 15 are stopped, and the unmatched denominations and the number of differences are displayed on a display unit (not shown), and an alarm sound is generated by a notifying unit (not shown) as necessary.

In the case where the above-described transport failure occurs during the sorting and counting process and the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport section 15 are stopped, when the start operation is performed again,
The control unit 16 controls the passage sensors 41 to 46 up to that point.
Counting is reset from the beginning by resetting the count value for each,
The coin count value based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 is also counted separately from those detected by the line sensor 26 after the start operation is performed again, and the final confirmation processing described above is performed only on these count values. Become.

In the coin sorting and counting apparatus described above, the control unit 16 controls the passage sensor 4 provided between the reject gate 13 and the sorting hole 34 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.
Each time 1 detects the passage of a coin, the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 is determined, and a value obtained by adding 1 to the already stored count value of the number of coins of the denomination is added. In the case where the above-described transport failure occurs on the deposit transport path 12, the reject gate 13, or the selective path 14 during the sorting counting process, the transport is stopped. The coins passing through the passage sensor 41 can be determined that the denomination has been determined and counted, and the coins not passing through the passage sensor 41, that is, the coins at the position of the passage sensor 41 and the coins passing through the passage sensor 41, For the coins on the upstream side, it can be determined that the denomination has not been determined and the counting has not been performed, and thus whether the determination has been made and whether or not the counting has been performed has passed through the passage sensor 41. Because of the possible in the decision, becomes clear.

Then, the worker manually drops the coins passing through the passage sensor 41 into the corresponding sorting holes 34 to 39, and removes the coins not passing through the passage sensor 41.
After that, if the coin transport unit 15 is reversed or manually returned to the rotating disk 11 and the sorting and counting process is resumed only for the coins remaining on the rotating disk 11 thereafter, the counting becomes incorrect. Without becoming
Moreover, without having to repeat the sorting and counting of all coins,
Continuation of the sorting count can be performed. Therefore, even if a transport failure occurs on the coin transport path 15 during the sorting and counting process and the transport is stopped, the subsequent sorting and counting process can be performed efficiently, and the counting can be ensured. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the most upstream passage sensor 41 provided between the reject gate 13 and the sorting hole 34 at the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.
Is also used as detection means for determining the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 to reduce the cost, but the determination is performed based on the detection data of the detection unit 22. The result is a genuine coin, and the place where the genuine coin is reliably discriminated from the false coin or the true coin, and is conveyed. In other words, the place where only the coin dropped in the selection holes 34 to 39 is conveyed, that is, reject Gate 1
If it is between 3 and the sorting hole 34 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, it can be provided separately from the passage sensor 41. For example, the downstream traveling sensor 29 at this location
Can be used, but in this case, the control unit 1
In step 6, when the traveling sensor 29 detects the passage of a coin, the denomination of the coin is determined and the count value is updated. Then, when a fake coin or a true coin to be eliminated by the reject gate 13 erroneously passes over the reject gate 13, the detection is started by the travel sensor 29, and the control unit 1 is started.
In No. 6, since the rotation disk 11 and the coin conveyance unit 15 are stopped when it is determined that there is a conveyance failure, the rotation disc 11 does not pass through the travel sensor 29 and is not fixed. Can respond.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit is provided between the reject unit of the coin transport path and the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction. Each time the detecting means detects the passage of a coin, the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit is determined, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination already stored is set to 1
Because it is updated and stored in the added value, during the sorting and counting process, if a transport failure occurs on the coin transport path and the transport is stopped, the coin passing through the detecting means is Since the denomination has been determined and counting has been performed, it is manually dropped into each corresponding sorting hole, and for coins that have not passed through the detection means, the coin has not been determined and the counting has not been performed, so the coins are transferred to the coin transport path. If the processing is restarted from the sending of coins, the counting will not be inaccurate, and it is not necessary to repeat the sorting and counting processing of all coins. Therefore, even if a transport failure occurs on the coin transport path during the sorting and counting process and the transport is stopped, the subsequent sorting and counting process can be performed efficiently and the counting can be performed reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the detecting means can be shared by the passage sensor provided on the upstream side of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, so that it is not necessary to separately provide the detecting means. Therefore, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a coin sorting and counting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin sorting and counting device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Receiving transfer path (coin transfer path) 14 Sorting path (coin transfer path) 15 Coin transfer unit 16 Control unit 22 Detecting unit 27 Reject unit 34-39 Separation hole 41 Passage sensor (detection means) 42-46 Passage sensor

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07D 1/00-9/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coin transport path on which coins are separated and fed one by one, a coin transport section for transporting coins on the coin transport path, and a coin on the coin transport path is detected and its denomination is determined. A detecting unit for detecting detection data for the coin transport path, a reject unit provided downstream of the detection unit in the coin transport direction in the coin transport direction, and capable of removing coins from the coin transport path; and Arranged along the coin transport direction downstream from the reject unit in the coin transport direction, each type of sorting hole for sorting and dropping coins of the corresponding denomination, and provided upstream of each sorting hole, respectively. In addition, a pass sensor for detecting coins, and whether or not coins detected by the detection unit are circulation coins and, if the coins are circulation coins, a denomination based on the detection data. If it is not a circulation coin
A control unit for removing the coin from the coin transport path by the reject unit, and a coin sorting and counting device, wherein between the reject unit of the coin transport path and the most upstream sorting hole in the coin transport direction, Providing detection means for detecting a coin, the control unit, each time the detection means detects the passage of the coin, to determine the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit, A coin sorting and counting apparatus characterized by updating a previously stored count of the number of coins of the denomination to a value obtained by adding 1, and storing the updated value. 2. The coin sorting and counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a passage sensor provided upstream of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.