JP3598906B2 - Coin sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a coin sorting device used in vending machines and the like, which electrically discriminates inserted coins.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, there has been a strong demand for a coin sorting device that can discriminate inserted coins more and more quickly, accept the coins, and reliably sort the coins.
[0003]
Hereinafter, a conventional coin sorting device will be described. FIG. 8 is a front view of a conventional coin sorting device. In FIG. 8, 1 is a coin sorting device main body, 2 is a coin inlet, 3 is a coin passage, and 4 and 5 are a first sensor and a second sensor for examining inserted coins. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 6 denotes an identification unit that determines the authenticity and denomination of a coin inserted based on signals output from the first sensor 4 and the second sensor 5, and 7 denotes an identification result of the identification unit 6. A gate opening / closing unit 9 for opening / closing the gate 10 is a control device composed of an identification unit 6 and a gate opening / closing unit 7. Reference numeral 10 denotes a gate for sorting true and false coins.
[0004]
The operation of the coin sorting device configured as described above will be described below. The coins inserted from the inflow port 2 approach the first sensor 4 and the second sensor 5 while rolling on the passage 3, and change the output of each of the coins by passing through. The discrimination unit 6 makes a determination based on the amount of change, and as a result, when it is determined that the coin is genuine, the gate 10 is opened by the gate opening / closing unit 7 for a predetermined time t, and the inserted coin is guided to the passage of the genuine coin and stored. Do. When the discriminating unit 6 determines that the coin is a counterfeit coin, the gate opening / closing unit 7 keeps the gate 10 closed without opening it, guides the inserted coin to the return passage, and returns it.
[0005]
The fixed time t during which the gate 10 is opened is a value determined by a passing time from when the inserted coin is determined to be a genuine coin to when the coin 10 leaves the gate 10 because the inserted coin is not bitten by the gate 10 and generally passes by a coin. Due to variations in time, the influence on the transit time due to the inclination of the coin sorting device, the influence on the transit time due to dirt in the coin passage 3, etc., it is necessary to make the value cumulatively considerably large, and temporarily set to t1.
[0006]
In the time chart of FIG. 10, reference numeral 11 denotes the output of the sensors 4 and 5, and the discriminating unit 6 determines the coin based on the output of the sensors 4 and 5, and at the time 11a when this determination is completed, the gate as shown in FIG. Open 10. Then, after a predetermined time t1 has elapsed, the gate 10 is closed. Actually, the gate 10 is closed at a predetermined time A (= A1) after the output 13 of the strobe sensor is present in order to reduce an error due to an external condition.
[0007]
The predetermined time t1 is also a time B for determining whether coins are to be inserted alone (hereinafter, referred to as single throw) or to be continuously inserted (hereinafter, referred to as continuous throw).
[0008]
However, if the time t1 is too long, the consecutively thrown coins (or even coins that cannot be identified because they are too close to each other and should be returned to the return passage) pass into the true coin passage before the processing of the first coin is completed. There is a problem of getting into both, and it has been difficult to satisfy both simultaneously and completely.
[0009]
Therefore, in the state where the gate 10 is opened by the gate opening / closing section 7 (t1 or B), the following coin is not detected by the first sensor 4 (that is, single throw), so that as shown in FIG. It is also considered to reset the set opening time t1 of the gate 10 to be longer by t2 (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 03-192492). With such a configuration, when there is no subsequent coin, the coin 10 can be closed after the coin has passed through the gate 10 without fail, so that the biting of the coin is improved.
[0010]
In the case of continuous throw, the output of the second throw by the sensors 4 and 5 is within the single throw / continuous throw determination time B as shown at 14, so the gate 10 is closed after a predetermined time t1.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even in such a conventional configuration, when coins are continuously inserted, the passing time varies due to coins, the passing time is affected by the inclination of the coin sorting device, and the passing time is affected by dirt in the coin passage 3. Assuming that a predetermined fixed gate opening time is t1, coins may be inevitably bitten.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting apparatus in which coins are hardly caught even during continuous coin insertion.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the coin sorting device of the present invention, when the sensor detects a subsequent coin in a state where the gate is opened by the gate opening and closing unit, after the identification by the identification unit is completed, the sensor Is provided with a time setting unit for adding a time until a subsequent coin is detected to the opening time of the gate.
[0014]
Thereby, even when coins are continuously inserted, biting of coins is reduced.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin inlet, a sensor provided in a passage of a coin flowing from the inlet, a gate provided downstream of the sensor, and a downstream of the gate. A coin storage unit provided on the side, and a control device that opens and closes the gate based on a signal output from the sensor, wherein the control device performs true / false discrimination based on a signal output from the sensor. An identification unit, a gate opening / closing unit that opens and closes a gate according to the identification result of the identification unit, and in a state where the gate is opened by the gate opening / closing unit, when the sensor detects a subsequent second coin, After the discrimination of the first coin by the discrimination unit is completed, a coin sorting device provided with a time setting unit that adds a time until the sensor detects a subsequent coin of the second coin to the opening time of the gate. Ah During the continuous insertion of coins, the time required for the sensor to detect the subsequent second coin after the identification of the first coin by the identification unit is added to the opening time of the gate. Since the setting section is provided, the gate opening time becomes longer, and the coins of the first throw are reduced.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 2 is the coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a strobe sensor is provided at substantially the same position as the gate, and the time from when the strobe sensor detects coins to when the gate is closed is set. Since the strobe sensor provided at the same position as the gate counts the time from the detection of coins to the closing of the gate, for example, the variation in the transit time due to coins, the influence on the transit time due to the inclination of the coin sorting device, etc. Even if there is an influence on the transit time due to dirt on the coin passage, the influence can be minimized, and the biting of the coin is reduced.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coin sorting apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein a magnetic sensor is used as the strobe sensor, and the dirt in the coin passage can be detected more accurately than an optical sensor or the like. .
[0018]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin sorting device of the present invention includes an inlet 22 for coins 18, a passage 23 for coins 18 flowing from the inlet 22, and a sensor 24 provided upstream of the passage 23. A sensor 25 provided downstream of the sensor 24, a gate 30 provided downstream of the sensor 25, a strobe sensor 31 provided substantially at the same position as the gate 30, and a sensor 30 provided downstream of the gate 30 It has a configuration in which a provided coin storage section and a control device 29 for opening and closing the gate 30 based on signals output from the sensors 24 and 25 are provided.
[0019]
Then, the control device 29, as shown in FIG. 1, identifies a discriminating unit 26 for discriminating the authenticity of the coin based on signals output from the sensors 24 and 25, and opens and closes the gate 30 based on the discrimination result of the discriminating unit 26. When the sensor 24 detects a subsequent second coin 18 in a state where the gate 30 is opened by the gate opening / closing unit 27 and the gate opening / closing unit 27, the identification unit 26 removes the first coin 18. After the discrimination is completed, a time setting unit 28 is provided which adds the time required for the sensor 24 to detect the subsequent second coin 18 to the opening time of the gate 30.
[0020]
Here, “opening” means to energize the magnet of the gate 30 to guide the coins 18 flowing out of the gate 30 to the storage unit side, and “close the gate” means This means creating a state in which the coins 18 that are flown out are guided to the return passage side.
[0021]
Note that a magnetic sensor is used as the strobe sensor 31 so that dirt on the coin passage 23 can be detected more accurately than an optical sensor or the like.
[0022]
The operation of the coin sorting device configured as described above will be described below. The coins 18 that have flowed in from the inflow port 22 approach the sensors 24 and 25 while rolling on the passage 23, and change the output of each of the coins as they pass. The change amount is read by the identification unit 26, and if each change amount is within the area of a genuine coin, it is determined to be a genuine coin. If it is out of the area, it is determined to be fake.
[0023]
Here, the method of determining the coin 18 will not be described in detail, but the amount of change in the impedance of each sensor (many of the detection coils) due to the passage of the coin is detected as the change amount of the oscillation frequency or the oscillation level, and this change amount is a genuine coin. In general, a method of determining whether the region is true or false depending on whether or not the region is within the region.
[0024]
When the discriminating unit 26 determines that the coin is a genuine coin, the time chart shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. That is, reference numeral 32 denotes outputs of the sensors 24 and 25. The discriminating section 26 discriminates the first coin 18 as a genuine coin, and opens the gate 30 at the time 32a when the discrimination is completed. The opening time 33 of the gate 30 starts at the time 32a when the identification by the identification unit 26 is completed, and ends at a fixed time A (A = A1 and provisionally set) after the strobe sensor 31 detects the coin 18. Reference numeral 34 denotes an output of the strobe sensor 31.
[0025]
Here, when the sensor 24 detects the second coin 18 within the single-throw / continuous-throw determination time B of the coin 18, the timer is activated from the time point 32 a at which the identification is completed, as indicated by 35, and the sensor 24 detects the second coin 18. The time t3 until the coin 18 is detected is added to the predetermined time A1. That is, A = A1 + t3 (where t3 <t0, and t0 is the time described below).
[0026]
If the sensor 24 does not detect the second coin after the single-throw / continuous-throw discrimination time B has elapsed, a predetermined time t0 is added to the predetermined time A as indicated by 36. That is, A = A1 + t0.
[0027]
Next, for reference, conditions for preventing the coin 18 from being caught in the gate 30 during single throw and conditions for preventing the second coin 18 from being jammed during continuous throw will be described.
[0028]
First, conditions for preventing the coin 18 from being caught in the gate 30 during single throw will be described. 4 and 5, reference numeral 40 denotes the output of the sensors 24 and 25, and the gate 30 opens at the time 40a when the identification unit 26 completes the identification by this output. Reference numeral 41 denotes an opening time of the gate 30. Next, the gate 30 is closed at time A after the output 42 of the strobe sensor 31 is output. Here, C is the time when the coin 18 has passed through the gate 30, and the time is t4. If the time from the end of the identification to the time when the output 42 of the strobe sensor 31 is obtained is t5, the condition for preventing the gate 30 from catching coins is as shown in (Equation 1).
[0029]
(Equation 1)
The condition of the opening time 41 of the gate 30 so that the coin 18 is not bitten by the gate 30 is that the gate 30 is closed after the coin 18 has passed through the gate 30.
That is, t5 + A> t4
A> t4-t5
[0030]
That is, the greater the value of A, the less the bite.
[0031]
Next, conditions for preventing the coin 18 of the second throw from being bitten during continuous throwing of coins will be described. First, when the sensor 24 detects the second coin 18 before the coin 18 has been identified in the first throw, the gate 30 does not open, so that the inserted coin 18 is returned through the return passage. You.
[0032]
Next, when the coin 18 of the second throw is detected by the sensor 24 after the coin 18 of the first throw is identified, the state becomes as shown in FIGS. That is, reference numeral 43 denotes an output of the sensors 24 and 25 by the first coin 18, and the gate 30 is opened from the time 43 a at which the discriminating unit 26 finishes discrimination as a genuine coin by the outputs of the sensors 24 and 25. 44 is the opening time of the gate 30. Then, the output 45 of the strobe sensor 31 appears at time t5 from the time 43a at which the identification is completed, and the gate 30 closes after a predetermined time A from that time.
[0033]
46 is an output of the sensors 24 and 25 by the second coin 18. D is a time t6 until the second coin 18 comes to the gate 30. To prevent the second coin 18 from being bitten by the gate 30, the gate 30 must be closed before the second coin 18 reaches the tip of the gate 30. The condition for that is as shown in (Equation 2).
[0034]
(Equation 2)
The condition of the opening time 44 of the gate 30 for the second coin 18 not to be caught in the gate 30 is that the gate 30 is closed before the second coin 18 comes to the tip of the gate 30. .
That is, t5 + A <t6
A <t6-t5
[0035]
That is, the smaller the value of A, the less the bite.
[0036]
As described above, it is very difficult to set the value of A that satisfies both the single throw and the continuous throw, but the configuration of the present invention enables the value of A to be set optimally.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the sensor detects the subsequent second coin in a state where the gate is opened by the gate opening / closing section, the identification section finishes identifying the first coin. After that, a time setting unit for adding a time until the sensor detects the subsequent second coin to the opening time of the gate is provided. When coins are continuously inserted, the identification unit identifies the coin. After the completion of the above, the gate opening time becomes longer because the time setting unit is added to add the time until the sensor detects the subsequent second coin to the opening time of the gate. Is less likely to bite.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coin sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view. FIG. 3 is a time chart. FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing conditions for preventing coins from being inserted. FIG. 6 is a front view showing conditions for preventing coins from being stuck at the gate when coins are continuously inserted. Time chart [Fig. 8] Front view of conventional coin sorting device [Fig. 9] Same as above, block diagram [Fig. 10] Same as above, Time chart [Description of reference numerals]
18 coin 22 inflow port 23 passage 24 sensor 25 sensor 26 identification unit 27 gate opening / closing unit 28 time setting unit 29 control device 30 gate

Claims (3)

A coin inlet, a sensor provided in the passage of the coin flowing from the inlet, a gate provided downstream of the sensor, a coin storage provided downstream of the gate, A control unit that opens and closes the gate based on a signal output from a sensor, wherein the control unit performs identification based on a signal output from the sensor, and a gate based on an identification result of the identification unit. When the sensor detects a subsequent second coin in a state where the gate is opened by the gate opening / closing unit that opens / closes the first coin, the identification unit finishes identifying the first coin. A coin sorting device provided with a time setting unit for adding a time until the sensor detects a subsequent second coin to the opening time of the gate. The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a strobe sensor is provided substantially at the same position as the gate, and the strobe sensor sets the time from the detection of a coin to the closing of the gate. 3. The coin sorting device according to claim 2, wherein a magnetic sensor is used as the strobe sensor.

Images