JP5924737B2 - Coin identification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin identifying device that performs authenticity determination of a coin (coin). In particular, the present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus that can discriminate bicolor clad coins made of a plurality of types of metals.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in vending machines or the like, a coin identifying device is used to identify the authenticity and type of coins to be inserted. In this coin discriminating apparatus, the authenticity and type are discriminated by identifying the characteristics of the coin such as the material of the coin, the surface irregularities, and the outer diameter. It is common to use a magnetic field induced by a coil for a sensor that detects the material of a coin. Such a sensor oscillates at a frequency at which the magnetic field is susceptible to the material inside the coin. The frequency susceptible to the material is a frequency at which the magnetic field penetrates into the coin without being affected by the external shape.

  It is possible to measure characteristics according to the material by irradiating a coin with a magnetic field of such a frequency and measuring the frequency and voltage with the coils arranged opposite to each other. Become. By the way, what is called a clad coin in which a plurality of kinds of materials (metals) are stacked is known in addition to a coin composed of one material. When detecting the material of such a clad coin, it is not possible to cope with a single frequency, and it is conceivable to use a frequency corresponding to the surface of the coin and a frequency penetrating into the coin. However, when dealing with a plurality of frequencies, it is necessary to arrange a sensor corresponding to each frequency. Furthermore, in order to avoid the interference of the frequency corresponding to the surface and the inside of the coin, it is necessary to install each sensor at a distance. Considering the number of sensors and the arrangement position in this way, it is not easy to reduce the size of the coin identification device.

  In order to solve such a problem, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that a single sensor can oscillate at a plurality of frequencies. Patent Document 1 discloses a self-excited coil sensor that includes a plurality of oscillators and oscillates by switching the frequency applied to a single coil according to the coin to be measured. The coin can be identified by measuring the change in the frequency of the coil when the coin is in the vicinity of the coil. Patent Document 2 discloses a separately-excited coil sensor in which an oscillation coil is oscillated at a plurality of frequencies by a random frequency oscillation circuit, and a reception coil is disposed in the vicinity of the oscillation coil or at a position facing the passage. It is disclosed that a coin is identified by obtaining a change in the frequency of the receiving coil.

JP 7-93633 A JP-A-8-44926

By the way, as a coin to be identified, a bi-color clad coin is known in addition to a single material coin as described above and a clad coin in which a plurality of materials are laminated. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the bicolor clad coin. 1A shows a top view of a bicolor clad coin, and FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the bicolor clad coin. The bicolor clad coin shown in this figure is a coin composed of three kinds of metals (C1 to C3), and the first metal C1 is used for the ring-shaped end portion, and both surfaces of the central portion are used. The second metal C2 is used for the central layer and the third metal C3 is used for the central layer at the center.
Is configured using.

  The coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention is intended to improve the discrimination accuracy of coins, and in particular, to improve the discrimination accuracy of the above-described bicolor clad coins. About the bicolor clad coin, it is supposed that the identification accuracy of a coin will be improved by detecting the characteristic about several places (an end part, a center part). The coin identification device according to the present invention can be applied to a single material coin, a clad coin, or a bicolor coin, and the identification accuracy is improved by detecting characteristics of a plurality of locations. Is intended.

Therefore, the coin identification device according to the present invention is characterized by the following matters.
A coil sensor comprising a first coil facing the coin path, and a second coil disposed facing the first coil across the coin path;
A coil oscillation circuit that repeatedly generates an oscillation signal having a variable frequency within a certain period in the first coil;
Control means for identifying coins passing through the coin passage based on an output value of the second coil,
The control means includes
Based on the output value of the second coil, the passage of coins in the coin passage is detected, and during the passage of coins in the coin passage, based on the output values of the second coil at a plurality of locations, The coin that has passed through the coin passage is identified.

Furthermore, in the coin identification device according to the present invention,
The coil oscillation circuit is
The variable capacity device;
Voltage control means for periodically varying the voltage applied to the variable capacitance device.

Furthermore, in the coin identification device according to the present invention,
The first coil and the second coil are connected in series and in phase.

Furthermore, in the coin identification device according to the present invention,
It said plurality of positions of the coin is characterized by end portions and the center portion der Rukoto of the determined coin based on the passage start timing of the coin.

Furthermore, in the coin identification device according to the present invention,
It said plurality of positions of the coin is characterized by end portions and the center portion der Rukoto of the determined coin based on the passage end timing with passage start timing of the coin.

Furthermore, in the coin identification device according to the present invention,
In the identification of the coin, the output value of the second coil is frequency-converted, and the coin that has passed through the coin path is identified based on the frequency-converted information.

According to the coin identification device of the present invention, the first coil (oscillation side) repeats an oscillation signal having a variable frequency within a certain period, whereby a clad portion in which a plurality of materials are laminated is formed with a surface layer, a center Can be identified. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the identification accuracy of a bicolor portion whose material is different between the end portion and the central portion by determining the characteristics of a plurality of locations of one coin to be identified. . Therefore, it is possible to provide a coin identifying device suitable for a bicolor clad coin having both configurations.

The figure which shows the structure of the bicolor clad coin used as the identification object of the coin identification device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the internal structure of the coin identification device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Sectional view when cutting the material sensor with respect to the coin currency direction Circuit diagram of a material sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention and an oscillation circuit for applying an oscillation signal The figure which shows the change of the output voltage in the voltage control source and the change of the voltage applied to the coil on the oscillation side Block diagram showing the configuration for judgment control related to the output of the material sensor The figure which shows the mode of the amplitude change at the time of the coin passing and non-passing in the coil on the receiving side The figure which shows the mode of the output of the coil of the receiving side when a coin passes a material sensor The flowchart which shows the coin identification process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Diagram showing frequency characteristics when coins are not passing and when coins are passing The figure for demonstrating the frequency characteristic in the center part of a bicolor clad coin The figure which shows the mode of the change of the output voltage in the voltage control source which concerns on other embodiment. The figure which shows the timing which acquires the output value from a coin sensor, when a sawtooth wave is generated by the voltage control source which concerns on other embodiment. The figure which shows the timing which acquires the output value from a coin sensor, when an output voltage is changed in steps by the voltage control source which concerns on other embodiment.

  Now, an embodiment of the coin identification device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the coin identifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and particularly an internal diagram illustrating the arrangement of various sensors for coin identification. The coin identification device 1 is a device used as a clearing machine such as a vending machine, a ticket machine parking lot, a pay copy machine, etc., and performs authenticity determination on an inserted coin (coin).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a coin slot 2 is provided in the upper part of the coin discriminating device main body 1, and a coin passage 3 inclined to the right is connected to the bottom of the coin slot 2. An identification sensor 3 is arranged on the side wall of the coin passage 3. In the present embodiment, the identification sensor 4 uses a plurality of sensors 5 to 7 corresponding to the characteristics of coins. In the example of FIG. 2, a material sensor 5, an unevenness detection sensor 6, and an outer diameter sensor 7 are arranged in order from the upstream of the coin passage 3. The coin inserted from the insertion slot 2 rolls through the coin passage 3 by its own weight and passes through the identification sensor 4, whereby its authenticity and type are determined.

  Moreover, the coin identification device 1 has a detection means (not shown) for detecting the output of these identification sensors 4 (5 to 7), and a storage means (not shown) for storing in advance data that serves as a reference for the correctness and type of coins. 2) and a control means for comparing the output from the detection means and the reference data of the storage means to determine whether the coin passing through the coin passage 3 is true or false, the type, and the like. With such a configuration of the coin identification device 1, the coin passing through the coin passage 3 is made of the material of the coin by the material sensor 5, the unevenness of the surface of the coin by the unevenness detection sensor 6, and the coin of the coin by the outer diameter sensor 7. The outer diameter is detected and compared with reference data stored in advance in the storage means to determine its correctness, type, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the material sensor 5 described in FIG. 2 when cut in the coin currency direction. The coin passage 3 is composed of one side wall 31, a rail 33 positioned below, and the other side wall 32 formed integrally with the rail 33. Further, the coin passage 3 is inclined toward the side wall 32 as shown in the figure, and the coin passing through the coin passage 3 is configured to roll while being inclined toward the side wall 32. By tilting such a coin passage 3, compared with the case where the coin passage 3 is not tilted, flickering of the coin C in the coin passage 3 is suppressed, and the characteristics of the coin C are detected in a stable state. It becomes possible to do.

  The material sensor 5 includes ferrite cores 51a and 52a attached to the side walls 31 and 32, respectively, and coils 51b and 52b wound around the cores 51a and 52a. . The mounting heights of the cores 51a and 51b are arranged so that the center is located approximately at the center of the coin to be identified. The coils 52a and 52b wound around the opposing cores 51a and 51b are connected in series so that the mutual inductance of the coils 52a and 52b becomes positive, and further connected to a single oscillation circuit to form one oscillation circuit. Yes. By connecting the coils in series in-phase, the material (conductivity) of the coin can be easily detected. On the other hand, when the coils are connected in series and reversely fed, it is easy to detect the thickness of the coin and the surface irregularities. Therefore, the two coils 52a and 52b used for the material sensor 5 are preferably connected in series and in phase.

  Although the configuration of the material sensor 5 has been described, the unevenness detection sensor 6 and the outer diameter sensor 7 have two coils facing each other with the coin passage 3 in between, as in the material sensor 5, and the two coils are connected in series. By connecting to the oscillation circuit, one oscillation circuit is configured.

  Each coil of the identification sensor 4 (5 to 7) configured as described above is oscillated at a predetermined frequency by an oscillation circuit formed by the coil. As coins roll while passing through each identification sensor 4 (5-7), a change occurs in the magnetic field formed by each identification sensor 4 (5-7), and the frequency and voltage detected by the coil on the receiving side change. To do. Since the change in frequency and voltage varies depending on the material, outer diameter, and unevenness of the coin, the coin processing device 1 can determine the authenticity and denomination of the coin based on such output characteristics.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the material sensor 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention and an oscillation circuit that applies a signal to the material sensor 5. In the material sensor 5, the oscillation side coil 51b and the reception side coil 52b are connected in series and in phase as described above. In addition, an amplifier 53 is connected to the coils 51b and 52b in a loop shape, and capacitors 55 and 56 and a variable capacitor 54c (variable capacitor device) are connected to the output side of the amplifier 53 so that an oscillation circuit is provided. It is composed. The oscillation frequency fc in this oscillation circuit is as follows when the inductance of the coil 51b is L1, the inductance of the coil 51b is L2, the capacitance of the capacitor 55 is C1, the capacitance of the capacitor 56 is C3, and the capacitance of the variable capacitor 54c is C2. It is represented by Formula (1).
fc = 1 / 2π√ ((L1 + L2) * (C0 * C3 / (C0 + C3))) (1)
However, C0 = C1 * C2 / (C1 + C2)

In this way, a configuration in which coils facing each other across the passage are connected in series and an oscillation circuit is configured by both coils is hereinafter referred to as a self-excited oscillation circuit. On the other hand, a configuration in which the oscillation side coil 51b and the reception side coil 52b are configured as separate circuits will be hereinafter referred to as a separately excited oscillation circuit. Using the self-excited oscillation circuit has the following advantages. When the coin passes through the coin passage 3, the coin rolls and moves while colliding with both wall surfaces sandwiching the passage (bounce and flutter). For this reason, the distance between the coin and the coil is not constant. When the distance between the coin and the sensor is not constant, or when a separately-excited oscillation circuit is used, if the distance between the receiving coil and the coin is not constant, the output is not stable and the measurement accuracy is lowered. On the other hand, in the case of a self-excited oscillation circuit, the coin passing through the coin path 3 between the two coils moves away from the other coil when approaching one coil. Unaffected by distance from the coins. Therefore, it is possible to obtain stable coin characteristic data with less change in output than the separate excitation type.

  The frequency varying means 54 is composed of a variable capacitor 54c, a voltage control source 54a, and a resistor 54b. The variable capacitor 54c is an electric element that can change the capacitance according to the voltage value applied thereto. The voltage control source 54a periodically changes the voltage applied to the variable capacitor 54c, thereby changing the capacitance C2 of the variable capacitor 54c, thereby changing the oscillation frequency fc in the oscillation circuit. The voltage control source 54a can be configured using a CPU and a D / A converter as an example. By sequentially changing the CPU output from 0 to 255 and outputting it to the D / A converter, the output voltage of the D / A converter can be periodically changed.

  With such a configuration, the magnetic field generated in the coil 51b on the oscillation side changes periodically, and the characteristics of the material of the surface layer and the center layer of the coin C can be detected. The output of the coil 52b on the receiving side is detected as a voltage applied to the capacitor 56, and is used for determining the material of the coin C.

  The range of the frequency to be changed is determined by the range of the depth to be penetrated. When the characteristic data of the center material in the thickness direction of the coin is acquired, it is set to a relatively low frequency that penetrates to the center. In the case of the present embodiment, when it is desired to obtain the material characteristics at each part in the thickness direction of the clad coin in which a plurality of metals are laminated, a frequency ranging from several tens kHz to several hundreds kHz is used. For example, when it is desired to detect the material of the surface layer and the center layer of a clad portion having a thickness of 1.8 mm, a frequency ranging from about 60 kHz to 200 kHz is used. On the other hand, when it is desired to acquire the characteristics of the plated portion of the plated coin whose surface is plated, a frequency ranging from several hundred kHz to several MHz is used. For example, in the case of a plated coin having a base material plated with several tens of μm to several hundreds of μm, a frequency ranging from 500 kHz to 2 MHz is used for detecting the material of the base material and the plated portion.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in the output voltage in the voltage control source 54a and a change in the voltage applied to the coil 51b on the oscillation side. In the present embodiment, a sawtooth wave is formed by linearly attenuating the voltage of the voltage control source 54a every fixed period (period T), and the oscillation period of the voltage applied to the oscillation side coil 51b is changed. Yes.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration for determination control related to the output of the material sensor 5 in the coin identifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, only the material sensor 5 will be described, but actually, the coin control device 1 determines whether the coin is true or false based on the outputs of the unevenness detection sensor 6 and the outer diameter sensor 7.

  The configuration of the determination control includes the material sensor 4, the detection circuit 61, the A / D converter 62, the memory, and the control unit 64. Regarding the material sensor 4, the output of the coil 52b on the receiving side is input to the detection circuit 61 and output as a determination signal. The signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 62, stored in the memory 63, and used for coin determination. The control unit 64 is configured by a CPU or the like, and monitors the output of the A / D converter 62 and executes the true / false of the coin, the type determination process, and the like based on the data stored in the memory 63.

In this embodiment, when the coin C passes the material sensor 4, the data used for determination of the coin C is acquired using the change of the amplitude value. FIG. 7 shows how the coil 52b on the receiving side changes in amplitude when the coin C does not pass through the material sensor 4 and when it passes through. When the coin C passes through the material sensor 4, that is, when it does not pass between the coils 52a and 52b, the amplitude is Vt, and the amplitude Vx when it passes through the material sensor 4 (Vt> Vx). It is. In the present embodiment, the passage of the coin C is determined using such a change in amplitude in the coil 52b on the receiving side.

  Furthermore, the present embodiment is characterized in that the bicolor clad coin described in FIG. 1 can be identified, and when the coin C passes, the end and the center are discriminated. FIG. 8 shows an output state of the coil 52b on the receiving side when the coin C passes through the material sensor 4.

  When the bicolor clad coin passes through the material sensor 4, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the end portion constituted by the first metal C1 and the central portion having the clad structure in which the third metal C3 is sandwiched between the second metals. When a magnetic field is applied, the output characteristics are different. In the present embodiment, such a bicolor clad coin is to be identified, and therefore, the characteristics are identified at a plurality of points in the passing period in which the coin C passes through the material sensor 4.

  As described above, it has been found that the amplitude at the time of coin passage can be suppressed smaller than that at the time of non-passage. Therefore, in this output signal, it is estimated that the output signal from the passage start timing A to the timing B after the lapse of a certain period is an output signal at the end of the coin C. On the other hand, the output signal from the timing B to the timing C after the elapse of a certain period is estimated to be an output signal in the central portion of the coin C. In the present embodiment, the period during which each of the end and center of the coin C passes is determined using the passage start timing A as an opportunity, and the material of the coin C is identified during each period.

  Specifically, a period Ta after the lapse of ta from the passage start timing A is used as an end determination period, and a period Tb after the lapse of tb from the passage start timing A is used as a center determination period. Each of the periods Ta and Tb needs to be equal to or longer than the repetition period T in the voltage control source 54a. By setting Ta and Tb in this way, it is possible to perform determination using a plurality of frequencies included in the repetition period T. In the present embodiment, only the end portion that passes first is set as the determination target, but the period Tc after the passage of tc from the passage start timing A is adopted as the end determination period, and determination is made for a plurality of portions of the coin C. Is also possible. The central portion of the coin C may be determined at a plurality of locations, and the determination accuracy may be increased.

  In the present embodiment, starting from the passage start timing A of the coin C, the determination periods Ta to Tc are determined based on the elapsed periods ta to tc from the start point. It is good also as determining based on the passage start timing A and the passage end timing D of a coin. It is conceivable that the passing speed of the coins C passing through the coin passage 3 is not uniform for each coin depending on the initial speed of the passing coins C or the passing state (flapping) in the coin passage 3. Therefore, it is conceivable that the time length of the passage period (timing A to D) of the coin C varies for each coin C. Therefore, after acquiring the coin passing periods A to D, the determination periods Ta to Tc may be determined based on the relative positions.

  Specifically, the control unit 64 stores the output of the A / D converter 62 in the memory 63 until the passage end timing D is detected after the passage start timing A is detected. During the period stored in the memory 63, by determining each of the determination periods Ta to Tc based on the relative position, even when the speed of the coin passing through the coin passage 3 varies, a predetermined portion of the coin C It is possible to determine the material for (center, end, etc.). In addition, in such a form, even if it is a case where the coin C from which a magnitude | size differs is made into identification object, it becomes possible to perform material determination which makes the predetermined location for every coin C object.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a coin identifying process according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG.
Although the identification of the coin C using the material sensor 4 described in the above will be described, the coin C is actually identified including the identification results of the other sensors 6 and 7. In FIG. 2, when it is confirmed that a coin has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 2, this coin identification process is started. In the coin identification process, the amplitude (envelope) change of the output signal is monitored in order to confirm the coin currency in the material sensor 4 (S101). When it is determined that an amplitude change has occurred and the coin C has started to pass through the material sensor 4 (timing A in FIG. 8) (S101: Yes), the control unit 64 outputs data output from the A / D converter 62. Is started to be written in the memory 63 (S102).

  If a certain number of data is stored in the memory 63 after the start of writing (S103: Yes), writing to the memory 63 is stopped, and the process proceeds to S104 to S109 determination processing. In S104, frequency conversion (in this embodiment, adopts FFT) is performed on a predetermined period (Ta in FIG. 8) in the end passage period of the coin C in the data written in the memory 63, and the frequency characteristic is obtained. To detect. In S105, frequency conversion (in this embodiment, adopts FFT) is performed on a predetermined period (Tb in FIG. 8) in the central passage period of the coin C in the data written in the memory 63, and the frequency characteristic is obtained. To detect.

  As described above, the frequency characteristics at the end and center of the coin C obtained in S104 and S105 are compared with the reference data stored in the memory 63 in advance, and are used for the determination of the true / false and the type. Therefore, in S106, the reference data is read for a plurality of types of coins stored in the memory 63. In S107, the frequency characteristic at the end of the coin C acquired in S104 is compared with the reference data read out in S106. When it is determined that the frequency characteristic acquired in S104 matches any of the reference data, the process proceeds to S108, and the reference data of the central part of the coin C that is compatible in S107 is transferred to the frequency characteristic of the central part of the coin C. And contrast. When the comparison result is matched for both S107 and S108, it is determined that the coin C is a genuine coin and its type is determined (S109). On the other hand, if any one of S107 and S108 does not match the reference data, it is determined that the coin C is not a genuine coin.

  FIG. 10 shows changes in frequency characteristics when the coin is not passing and when the coin is passing. In the figure, the frequency characteristics when coins are not passed are indicated by solid lines, and the frequency characteristics when coins are passed are indicated by broken lines. As shown in this figure, it can be seen that when the coin C passes through the material sensor 4, the frequency characteristic of the output signal changes.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the frequency characteristics in the central portion of the bicolor clad coin, and the frequency characteristics of the bicolor clad coin central portion (cladding portion) are indicated by a solid line C1. Further, the frequency characteristic C2 of a single material (copper) is shown by a one-dot chain line, and the frequency characteristic C3 of a single material (copper) is shown by a two-dot chain line. When paying attention to the frequency characteristics of the bicolor clad coin C1, the frequency characteristics C2 of the single material (copper) is matched in the low frequency range, and the frequency characteristics C3 of the single material (white copper) is matched in the high frequency range. I can see. From this, it is identified that the bicolor clad coin to be identified is a coin using white copper for the surface layer and copper for the center layer.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to identify the characteristics of the clad portion in which a plurality of metals are stacked based on the acquired frequency characteristics.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating how the output voltage changes in a voltage control source according to another embodiment of the present invention. The output voltage of the voltage control source 54a described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 is linearly changed (sawtooth wave), but the output voltage of the voltage control source 54a is stepped as shown in FIG. The form (step wave) to change automatically may be adopted. In such a form, the oscillation frequency fc also changes step by step. However, when the frequency used for discrimination is small, it is possible to identify coins that simplify discrimination processing.

  As described above, in the embodiment described above, the frequency characteristic is obtained by frequency-converting the output value sampled for a predetermined period (Ta, Tb, Tc in the example of FIG. 8) for the output of the coil 52b. However, instead of determining the characteristic of the coin based on the output value of such a predetermined period, it is also possible to determine the characteristic of the coin based on the output value at a predetermined timing.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the output value of the voltage control source 54a and the characteristic determination timing of coins. FIG. 13 shows the characteristics when the oscillation is performed using the same waveform (sawtooth wave) as in FIG. 5, and FIG. 14 shows the characteristics when the oscillation is performed using the same waveform (step wave) as in FIG. The determination timing is shown.

  In the form using the sawtooth wave shown in FIG. 13, the output value (voltage value, frequency) of the output side coil 52b at each time point from t1 to t6 is acquired and acquired from the rising point of the sawtooth wave. By determining whether or not the output value is within a predetermined threshold range, it is possible to identify the authenticity or type of the coin. In order to determine the frequency of an output value at a certain timing as in the present embodiment, a method of passing through a band-pass filter having a frequency to be observed and observing the output value (amplitude) is considered. It is done.

  When the staircase wave shown in FIG. 14 is used, the output value (voltage value, frequency) of the coil 52b on the output side is changed for each stepwise amplitude, that is, for each timing (t1 to t6) when the oscillation frequency fc changes. By acquiring, as in the case of using the sawtooth wave of FIG. 13, it is possible to identify the true or false of the coin by determining whether or not the acquired output value is within a predetermined threshold range. It becomes.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and embodiments configured by appropriately combining the configurations of the respective embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coin identification apparatus 2 ... Coin slot 3 ... Coin passage 4 ... Identification sensor 5 ... Material sensor 6 ... Concavity and convexity detection sensor 7 ... Outer diameter sensor 31, 32 ... Side wall 51a, 52a ... Ferrite core 51b, 52b ... Coil 53 ... Amplifier 54 ... Frequency variable means 54a ... Voltage control source 54b ... Resistor 54c ... Variable capacitor 55, 56 ... Capacitor C ... Bicolor clad coin C1 ... First metal C2 ... Second metal C3 ... Third metal

Claims (6)

A coil sensor comprising a first coil facing the coin path, and a second coil disposed facing the first coil across the coin path;
A coil oscillation circuit that repeatedly generates an oscillation signal having a variable frequency within a certain period in the first coil;
Control means for identifying coins passing through the coin passage based on an output value of the second coil,
The control means includes
Based on the output value of the second coil, the passage of coins in the coin passage is detected, and during the passage of coins in the coin passage, based on the output values of the second coil at a plurality of locations, A coin identification device for identifying a coin that has passed through the coin passage. The coil oscillation circuit is
The variable capacity device;
The coin identification device according to claim 1, further comprising: a voltage control unit that periodically varies a voltage applied to the variable capacitance device. The coin identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are connected in series and in phase. Said plurality of positions of coins, coin identifying according to any one of claims 3 to end portions and the center portion der Rukoto of the determined coin based on the passage start timing of coin claim 1, wherein apparatus. Said plurality of positions of the coin from claim 1, wherein the end portion and the central portion der Rukoto of the determined coin based on the passage end timing with passage start timing of the coins to any one of claims 3 The coin identification device described. The identification of the coin is performed by frequency-converting the output value of the second coil and identifying the coin that has passed through the coin path based on the frequency-converted information. The coin identification device according to any one of the above.

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