JP3350958B2 - Coin identification device - 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 discriminating apparatus for irradiating a coin with light and discriminating the authenticity or authenticity of the coin from the reflected light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine or a money changing machine, in order to prevent the sale of goods and the withdrawal of genuine coins due to the insertion of counterfeit coins, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
A coin discriminating device as shown in Japanese Patent No. 164190 (G07D5 / 08) is provided. That is, the configuration disclosed in this publication forms an AC magnetic field in the coin passage, and determines the authenticity / authenticity of the inserted coin by comparing the change of the AC magnetic field due to the passage of the coin with the case of a previously measured genuine coin. Things. According to such a coin identifying device, it is possible to identify the material of the inserted coin and the dimensions including the diameter and the plate thickness.

[0003]

However, in recent years, counterfeit coins having the same or very similar material and dimensions as genuine coins have come to be used. Judgment has become difficult, and further improvement in identification accuracy has been desired. By the way, for example, 3-4
In Japanese Patent No. 4770 (G07D5 / 10), a coin discriminating apparatus that irradiates light to the peripheral surface of a coin and inspects the reflected light to determine the indentation around the coin is also considered.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a coin discriminating apparatus capable of improving the discrimination accuracy of coins by easily discriminating a pattern on a coin surface using light based on these conventional techniques. .

[0005]

A coin recognition system according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Another device is provided in the coin path where coins to be identified roll.
Light emitting means for irradiating light toward the surface of the coin;
Receives light emitted from the light emitting means and reflected by coins
Light receiving means for converting the light into electric signals,
Change of this electrical signal based on the change of the electrical signal from the means.
Detection of the extreme value of
Integrate the change time as the time from the value to the next limit
Control means, the control means comprising:
Discriminating the authenticity of coins based on the value and the time of change
Features.

[0006]

[0007]

The light emitted from the light emitting means to the surface of the coin rolling on the coin path is irregularly reflected by irregularities based on the pattern on the surface of the coin. That is, the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving means is large when the coin surface is flat, and decreases due to the presence of irregularities, and the characteristic time when the electric signal from the light receiving means is within a predetermined range is equal to the pattern of the coin surface. Will change based on the Therefore, electricity in the case of specie
The change in the signal shows a certain pattern. This pattern is strange
From the transition time from the extreme value of
Characterized by the number of small and maximum values and the slope of the change,
In addition, these characteristics are due to light reception due to dirt and deterioration of the coin surface.
It has the advantage that it is hardly affected by the change in the amount. The invention of claim 1
The control means of the coin identification device includes the
Characteristics of change of electric signal obtained from limit value and change time
And authenticity by comparing the features of
Discriminate and deemed to match with a certain tolerance
In this case, it is assumed to be a genuine coin.

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the coin discriminating apparatus 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a coin passage 2 of the vending machine when the coin discriminating apparatus 1 of the present invention is installed in a vending machine, for example. Is shown. First, in FIG. 2, the coin passage 2 has an insertion port 3 at an upper end, and a coin rolling portion 4 which descends at a predetermined angle is formed below the insertion port 3. A receiving passage 5 and a return passage 6 are divergently formed below the coin rolling portion 4.
Receiving gate 7 corresponding to the entrance of receiving passage 5
Is provided. The coin rolling unit 4 is provided with magnetic sensors 8 and 9 similar to the conventional ones.
The size and material of the coin 10 inserted are inspected.

Between the magnetic sensors 8 and 9 of the coin rolling section 4, a light emitting section 11 as light emitting means and a light receiving section 12 constituting light receiving means are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the light emitting unit 11 and the light receiving unit 12 is a coin 10 which is inserted from the insertion slot 3 and rolls the coin rolling unit 4 at a substantially constant speed.
Of the coin rolling part 4 at a position approximately 8 mm to 10 mm from the bottom of the coin rolling part 4 so that the hole of a 50 yen coin can be detected. It is attached to a surface.

The light emitting section 11 is constituted by a light emitting diode, and is connected to an output of a light emission control section 13 for controlling the light emission amount of the light emitting section 11 as shown in FIG. The light emission control unit 13 can correct a change in the light emission amount due to contamination of the light emission unit 11 or the like. The light receiving section 12 is composed of a phototransistor, and is connected in parallel to the capacitor 15 in a series circuit of a resistor 14 and a capacitor 15 connected between a power supply VCC and the ground. These light receiving sections 1
2. The light receiving means is constituted by the resistor 14 and the capacitor 15. The light receiving section 12 has an improved conductivity as the amount of received light increases.
5 (hereinafter, referred to as an output voltage v) decreases as the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 increases, and increases as the amount of light received decreases. As a result, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 is converted into an electric signal.

The output voltage v of the capacitor 15 is input to a detection circuit section 16, where it is A / D converted and converted into a main control section 1 as control means comprising a general-purpose microcomputer.
7 is input. The main controller 17 is connected to a timer counter 18 as a time limiter, and a storage device 19 in which data of a detection time and a characteristic time, which will be described later, relating to the front and back of the genuine coin are stored by denomination. An interface unit 20 for outputting a denomination output signal as a result of the determination made in the main control unit 17 is connected.

The operation of the coin discriminating apparatus 1 with the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Figure 4 shows coin 1
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flow charts showing a program of the main control unit 17 showing a change in the output voltage v of the capacitor 15 accompanying the passage of 0. First, in a standby state where the coin 10 is not inserted, the main control unit 17 detects a standby voltage V1 substantially equal to the power supply VCC from the output voltage v at that time and stores it in the memory M1 configured in the storage device 19. I do. When the coin 10 passes, the light is reflected, so that the output voltage v is lower than at least the standby voltage V1. Therefore, the presence of the coin 10 may be detected when the output voltage v becomes lower than the standby voltage V1. However, in order to prevent malfunction due to noise, the main control unit 17 uses the standby voltage V1 based on the standby voltage V1. The detection voltage V2 is set by subtracting the detection voltage V2. Here, the output voltage v is affected by the temperature, and when the temperature is high, the current easily flows through the light receiving unit 12 and decreases. Therefore, in determining the detection voltage V2, the main controller 17 corrects the subtraction amount based on a temperature sensor (not shown) in consideration of the influence of the temperature, and determines the detection voltage V2.
2 is determined and stored in the memory M2 configured in the storage device 19. Further, the main control unit 17 sets an upper limit voltage V3 for detecting the characteristics of the coin 10 and a lower limit voltage V4 lower than the lower limit voltage V4 in a range sufficiently lower than the detection voltage V2, as described later in detail, and stores them in a storage device. Hold at 19.

After the main control unit 17 performs the initial setting in this manner, the process proceeds to the processing in FIGS. Here, when the coin 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 of the coin passage 2, the coin 1
0 rolls on the coin rolling unit 4 and falls, crossing the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11, so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11 hits one surface of the passing coin 10 and is reflected, and the light receiving unit 12 And the output voltage v of the capacitor 15 is
A change such as That is, when the coin 10 does not reach the light emitting unit 11, the output voltage v is the standby voltage V1, and when the coin 10 reaches the light emitting unit 11 and the tip of the coin 10 starts to hit the light, the coin 10 first reaches the edge of the coin 10. Because the light is reflected well, the output voltage v drops significantly. Thereafter, the light is irregularly reflected by the state of the irregularities due to the pattern on the one surface of the coin 10, and the output voltage v eventually drops significantly at the rear edge portion of the coin 10 while changing as shown in FIG. Shows a change that rises with the passage of.

The main control unit 17 receives the output voltage v,
In step S1, it is constantly monitored whether the output voltage v has dropped below the detection voltage V2. And coin 1 as described above
When 0 is input, the light reaches the light emitting unit 11, the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 12, and when the output voltage v falls below the detection voltage V2, the main control unit 17 proceeds from step S1 to step S2 and proceeds to step S2. The integration of the first counter as a function of 18 is started. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the output voltage v has become higher than the detection voltage V2. Since the output voltage v is currently falling, the output voltage v is higher than the upper limit voltage V3 in step S7 in FIG. It is determined whether or not the temperature has also become low, and if not, the process returns to step S3 in FIG.

When the output voltage v drops below the upper limit voltage V3, the main controller 17 proceeds from step S7 to step S8 to start the integration of the second counter as a function of the timer counter 18. Next, in step S9, the output voltage v
Is lower than the lower limit voltage V4, and if not, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether the voltage is higher than the upper limit voltage V3, and if not, the process returns to step S9 and repeats. Then, when the voltage falls below the lower limit voltage V4 in step S9 or becomes higher than the upper limit voltage V3 in step S17, the second counter of the timer counter 18 is stopped in step S10 or step S18, and the value of this time is determined in step S11 or step S19. The time t1 is stored in the memory M4 of the storage device 19 as the characteristic time T2. Then, the process returns from step S19 to step S3, and from step S11 to step S1.
Proceeding to 2, it is determined whether the output voltage v has become higher than the lower limit voltage V4.

When the output voltage v once drops below the lower limit voltage V4 and then rises again and becomes higher than the lower limit voltage V4, the main control unit 17 proceeds from step S12 to step S13 to execute the second function as a function of the timer counter 18. Restarts the counter accumulation. Next, at step S14, it is determined whether or not the output voltage v has become higher than the upper limit voltage V3.
It is determined whether it has become lower, and if not, the process returns to step S14 and repeats. Then, in step S14, the voltage exceeds the upper limit voltage V3, or in step S2
When it is 0 and becomes lower than the lower limit voltage V4, the second counter of the timer counter 18 is stopped in step S15 or step S21, and step S16 or step S22 is stopped.
Then, the time t2 at this time is added to the characteristic time T2 stored in the memory M4 of the storage device 19 and stored. Then, the process returns to step S3 from step S16, and returns to step S12 from step S22.

By such processing, the main control unit 17 adds the times t1 to t9 during which the output voltage v is between the upper limit voltage V3 and the lower limit voltage V4 to the memory M4 of the storage device 19 as shown in FIG. The time T2 is integrated. When the output voltage v increases with the passing of the coin 10 and exceeds the detection voltage V2, the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4 to stop the first counter of the timer counter 18 and store the time at that time as the detection time T1. It is stored in the memory M3 of the device 19.

Next, the main controller 17 determines the authenticity of the passed coin 10 based on the detection time T1 and the characteristic time T2 integrated by the above processing in step S6. At this time, the main control unit 17 stores the detection time and the characteristic time in the case of the above-mentioned genuine coin stored in advance in the storage device 19 and the memories M3 and M3.
The detected time T1 and the characteristic time T2 of the inserted coin 10 stored in No. 4 are compared. Here, the detection time T1 is determined for each denomination according to the size of the coin 10, and the characteristic time T2 indicates a constant value for each denomination according to the pattern on the front or back surface of the coin 10.
The main control unit 17 determines that the coins match each other within a certain range by the above-described comparison processing, and outputs a denomination output signal from the interface unit 20. If they do not match, a denomination output signal is output to the effect that they do not match.
Based on the denomination output signal and the determination results by the magnetic sensors 8 and 9, if both are determined to be genuine, the receiving gate 7 is opened and the inserted coin 10 is received in the receiving passage 5. If any of them is determined to be counterfeit, the receiving gate 7 is not opened and the coin 10 is guided to the return passage 6.

As described above, according to the coin discriminating apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, the authenticity of the coin can be discriminated by the size and pattern of the inserted coin 10, so that the weight is difficult to be discriminated by the magnetic sensors 8 and 9. It works effectively on counterfeit coins of the same quality as the true coins, and the coin identification accuracy can be significantly improved. In particular, since the pattern of the coin 10 is not strictly collated but can be easily determined from the amount of reflected light, the processing in the main control unit 17 does not become complicated.
The burden on software is also reduced. In the above embodiment, the detection time T1 and the characteristic time T2 are compared to determine whether the coin is true or false. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the size of the coin 10 can be determined by the other magnetic sensors 8 and 9, It is effective to determine only the pattern based on the characteristic time T2.

Next, another coin discriminating apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The circuit connection is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the other configuration is the same as that of FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted, and the operation of the main control unit 17 of the coin identification device 1 of the present invention will be described below. In a state where the coin 10 is not inserted, the main control unit 17 causes the light emitting unit 11 to emit light at a timing preset by the light emission control unit 13. The output voltage v at this time is the standby voltage V1 substantially equal to the power supply VCC as described above. Also, the main control unit 17
A threshold voltage V5 lower than 1 is set. A coin 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 of the coin passage 2, and the coin 10
When the light rolls on the coin rolling unit 4 and falls and crosses the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11 reflects on one surface of the passing coin 10 and is reflected by the light receiving unit 12. Therefore, the output voltage v of the capacitor 15 changes as shown in FIG. That is, the coin 10 is
The output voltage v does not reach the standby voltage V1
When the coin 10 reaches the light emitting unit 11 and the tip of the coin 10 starts to hit the light, the light is reflected at the edge portion of the coin 10 first, and the output voltage v drops greatly.
When the output voltage v becomes lower than the threshold voltage V5 by a certain time period t10 or more due to this drop, the main control unit 17 recognizes the existence of the coin 10 and the light emission control unit 13 causes the light emission unit 1
1 emits light continuously.

After that, the light is irregularly reflected by the unevenness due to the pattern on one side of the coin 10, and the output voltage v changes as shown in FIG. , The rise of the coin 10 to the standby voltage V1 again. During that time, the main control unit 17 always inputs the output voltage v at a predetermined sampling timing, and stores the output voltage v until the first limit value of the falling change of the output voltage v, that is, the minimum value 22A is detected. Is stored in a specific area, and when the area has expired, old data is sequentially discarded. And
When the change in the output voltage v changes to a rising change and exceeds a certain amount of change V6 for eliminating the influence of noise, the main control unit 17 stores the output voltage stored in the storage device 19 immediately before the change to the rising change. v is made valid as the minimum value 22A and stored in the comparison area of the storage device 19. When the main control unit 17 determines the minimum value 22 </ b> A, the main control unit 17 starts integration by the timer counter 18.

Next, the main control unit 17 keeps storing the output voltage v in a specific area of the storage device 19 until the limit value of the subsequent rise change of the output voltage v, that is, the maximum value 23A is detected.
When the area has expired, old data is discarded sequentially. When the change in the output voltage v changes to a downward change and exceeds a certain amount of change V6 for eliminating the influence of noise, the main control unit 17 stores the change in the storage device 19 immediately before the change to the downward change. The output voltage v is made valid as the maximum value 23A and stored in the comparison area of the storage device 19. When the local maximum value 23A is determined, the main control unit 17 stops the integration of the timer counter 18 and stores the integrated value at this time, that is, the change time from the minimum value 22A to the maximum value 23A in the storage device 19. Store in the collation area.

Similarly, the main controller 17 continues to control the minimum value 22C
To 22F and the maximum values 23C to 23F are detected, and the change time from the minimum value to the maximum value or from the maximum value to the minimum value is stored in the comparison area of the storage device 19 together with the values. The minimum value due to the last descending change in FIG. 7 is ignored as noise because the change amount V7 at that time does not exceed the change amount V6. Eventually, when the coin 10 passes and the output voltage v becomes the standby voltage V1 for a fixed time t11 or more,
The main control unit 17 determines that the coin 10 has passed, shifts the operation of the light emission control unit 13 to make the light emitting unit 11 emit light at a specific timing, and then shifts to the authenticity determination of the coin 10.

Since the output voltage v changes based on the pattern of the coin 10, the change of the output voltage v in the case of a genuine coin shows a constant pattern. This pattern is characterized by the above-mentioned minimum and maximum values, the number of limit values obtained from the change time, and the slope of the change of the output voltage v,
The change pattern of the output voltage v for the front and back of the genuine coin is stored in advance in the storage device 19 for each denomination as data of the limit value and the change time. And the main control unit 17
In the case of the authenticity judgment, the data relating to the limit value and the change time in the case of the genuine coin previously stored in the storage device 19 and the inserted coin 10 stored in the comparison area of the storage device 19
Is compared with the data on the limit value and the change time. If both match within a certain range, it is determined that the coin is a genuine coin of the matching denomination, and a denomination output signal is output from the interface unit 20. If they do not match, a denomination output signal indicating a mismatch is output, and the drive control device (not shown) of the receiving gate 7 corrects the denomination based on the denomination output signal and the determination results by the magnetic sensors 8 and 9. If it is determined that the coin is a coin, the receiving gate 7 is opened and the inserted coin 10 is received in the receiving passage 5. If any of the coins are determined to be counterfeit, the receiving gate 7 is not opened and the coin 10 is guided to the return passage 6.

As described above, the coin identifying apparatus 1 in this case is
It is possible to discriminate the authenticity of the coin by the pattern of the inserted coin 10, so that the magnetic sensor 8, 9 effectively works on a counterfeit coin whose weight and material which are difficult to discriminate are the same as the original coin. The accuracy of coin identification can be significantly improved. Similarly, the pattern of the coin 10 is not strictly collated, but can be easily determined from the characteristics of the change in light reflection. Therefore, the processing in the main control unit 17 does not become complicated, and the burden on software is reduced. Is also lighter.

In particular, the coin identification device 1 in this case is a coin 1
Since the judgment is made based on the characteristic of the change of the reflection of the light hitting the zero surface, it is not affected by the overall increase or decrease of the output voltage v. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is hardly affected by a change in the amount of received light due to dirt or deterioration of the coin 10 surface. In the embodiment, coin 1
Although the light is irradiated on one side of 0, it is not limited thereto, and the light may be irradiated on both the front and back sides, and the determination may be made based on the pattern on both sides. Thereby, the accuracy of coin identification can be further improved.

[0029]

According to the invention of claim 1 according to the present invention, it is possible to determine its authenticity by pattern of the coin surface, the weight
And counterfeit goods with the same or very similar materials
Works effectively and can significantly improve the accuracy of coin identification.
Wear. In particular, the characteristic of the change in the reflection of light hitting the coin surface
The coin surface is dirty or deteriorated.
There is an advantage that it is hardly affected by the change in the amount of received light.

[0030]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a coin identification device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a coin passage portion of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a coin, a light emitting unit, and a light receiving unit;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in an output voltage of a capacitor accompanying the passage of a coin.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a program of a main control unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a program of a main control unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in the output voltage of a capacitor for explaining the operation of the coin identification device of another invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin identification device 2 Coin passage 11 Light emitting part 12 Light receiving part 17 Main control part 18 Timer counter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07D 5/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coin passage for rolling coins to be identified is provided.
Light emitting means for emitting light toward the surface of the coin
Illuminated by the light emitting means and reflected by the coin
Light receiving means for receiving the reflected light and converting it to an electrical signal,
And a step, based on a change in an electrical signal from the light receiving means.
Detecting the extreme value of the change in the electrical signal,
The time from the extreme value to the next extreme value
Control means for integrating the change time.
The means determines the coin based on the limit value and the change time.
A coin discriminating device characterized by being separated.