JP5930464B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus including a coin storage cylinder that stores coins in a stacked manner, and particularly relates to a technique for accurately acquiring the number of coins in a coin storage cylinder.

Conventionally, a coin dispenser is mounted on a fare box or the like mounted on a vending machine, a change machine, a bus or the like. This coin dispensing device accepts coins from the upper part of a coin storage cylinder, loads and stores them, and dispenses coins by a coin dispensing mechanism provided below the coin storage cylinder.
In addition, for example, a vending machine is equipped with a coin processing device in which a coin identifying unit, a unit for sorting coins into denominations, and a coin dispensing device are integrated. This coin processing apparatus includes a plurality of coin storage cylinders for storing coins by denomination.

  A coin detection sensor (empty sensor) for detecting that the coin storage cylinder has a minimum number of coins necessary for change in the coin storage cylinder and a coin detection for detecting that the coin storage cylinder is full. A sensor (full detection sensor) is provided, and the presence / absence of coins equal to or greater than the number of coins at the position where the empty sensor is disposed and the presence / absence of full coins can be detected. For example, in the case of a coin storage cylinder of 100 yen, the empty sensor can detect that there are at least 10 coins. The full detection sensor can detect full (80 sheets).

  Moreover, patent document 1 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2010-218243) has shown the technique which detects the number of coins in a coin storage cylinder in a coin counter. This coin counter is arranged by tilting a coin storage cylinder for storing coins in an aligned manner, and arranging a coil (coin detection sensor) so as to surround the entire coin storage cylinder in the direction in which the coins overlap. The number of coins is counted from the voltage using the fact that the voltage across the coil depends on the number of coins.

  Moreover, patent document 2 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-175307) has shown the technique which has arrange | positioned one plane coil (coin detection sensor) along a coin storage cylinder on the single side | surface of a printed circuit board. In this method, a planar coil is arranged along a vertically arranged coin storage cylinder, and the number of coins is counted from a change in frequency using the fact that the frequency of the coil depends on the number of coins.

JP 2010-218243 A JP 2011-175307 A

However, the empty sensor mounted on the conventional coin processing apparatus is a magnetic sensor for detecting metal, and this magnetic sensor is composed of a coil wound with a conductive wire, which causes variations in characteristics and is capable of detecting aligned stacked coins. Therefore, an error of about ± 3 is generated as the number of sheets. For this reason, in order to check whether or not there are at least 10 coins, an empty sensor is arranged at a position for receiving 13 coins. For this reason, even if 16 sheets are actually stored, the case where the number of stored coins is detected as 10 may occur.
Due to such errors, even if there are 10 coins in the coin storage cylinder, if the empty sensor does not detect it, the vending machine may not be able to pay change, and there is a risk of missing a sales opportunity.

Therefore, it is desired that the coin processing device manages (obtains) the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder more accurately.
Also, at present, the empty sensor is arranged so that the minimum number of coins necessary for change can be detected, but the sensor for detecting the number of coins stored more accurately is to detect the total number of coins stored in the cylinder. There is a request.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 discloses a technique that makes it possible to detect the number of sheets stored in the entire coin storage cylinder.
However, according to the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the output of the coin detection sensor is not only the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder, but also the distance between the coins in the coin storage cylinder and the sensor. Therefore, if the distance between the coin stored in the coin storage cylinder and the coin detection sensor is not constant, the measurement accuracy is lowered.

  For this reason, if it is a coin counter of the structure by which the coin storage cylinder currently disclosed by patent document 1 is arrange | positioned diagonally, a coin will be loaded and accommodated along the side wall of a cylinder, a coin, a coin detection sensor, Since the distance is always constant, the number of coins can be measured with high accuracy. However, in the case of a coin processing device in which the coin storage cylinder is arranged vertically, a measurement error occurs because the distance between the coin stored in the coin storage cylinder and the coin detection sensor is not constant.

  An object of this invention is to provide the coin processing apparatus which can acquire more correctly the number of coins in a coin storage cylinder in view of said problem.

The invention according to claim 1 for solving the problem includes a coin storage cylinder in which a coin is stored;
An oscillation signal is individually given to a plurality of planar coils provided in parallel in the coin stacking direction on a substrate placed in the vicinity of the coin storage cylinder, and information based on the oscillation frequency generated from each of the planar coils is output. coins and detection sensor, stores in advance the coin detection data table showing the relationship between the output and the coin count to the stored in the coin storage cylinder sensors, also storage for storing the coins number of the coin storing cylinder for and parts, as well as detecting the payout and Re acceptance of the coins to the coin storage cylinder on the basis of the output of the coin detection sensors, a control unit for determining the coin number accommodated in the coin storing cylinder, the control unit, when it is powered on to the coin processing device, or when the coin storage cylinder is mounted, the first coin sheet by collating the said output of the coin detection sensors data table Determines, coins the number of the first stored in the storage unit as the coin number of the coin storing cylinder, then the receiving or dispensing of the coin when it detects a change in the output of the coin detection sensors, second calculating a coin count by increasing or decreasing the coin number stored in the storage unit, stores the coins number of second as the coin number of the coin storing cylinder, the by the coin detection sensors The number of coins that can be determined to be zero error is set as a predetermined number, and the output of the coin detection sensor after the acceptance or withdrawal of the coin is detected is compared with the data table to determine a third number. determine the coin number, if the quantity of coins third is determined to the a predetermined number, the second coin number which has been stored in the storage unit, is corrected to the quantity of coins third It is the coin processing apparatus according to claim.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the planar coil partially overlaps with the planar coil adjacent to the first surface and the second surface of the substrate via the substrate. the are arranged in parallel a plurality shape so as to be aligned in the coin stacking direction, it is the coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the number of sensors for detecting the number of coins in a coin storage cylinder can be reduced, and also the coin processing apparatus and coin number detection which can acquire correctly the number of coins in a coin storage cylinder Can provide a method.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the electrical constitution of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the front view of a coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and an example of the structure. It is a figure which shows the coin detection sensor and coin storage cylinder with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped, (a) is a schematic perspective view seen from the coin storage cylinder side, (b) is from the side. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other structure and coin storage cylinder with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is provided, (a) is a schematic perspective view seen from the coin storage cylinder side, (b). Is a schematic perspective view seen from the coin detection sensor side, (c) is a cross-sectional view seen from the side. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the coin detection sensor with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship between the output of the coin detection sensor with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped, and the number of coins accommodated in the coin storage cylinder. It is a data table which shows an example of the relationship between the counter value calculated | required based on the coil output of the coin detection sensor with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped, and a coin accommodation number. It is a figure which shows the coin detection sensor with which the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped, and a coin storage cylinder, In the state where the distance of the coin loaded and accommodated in the coin storage cylinder and a coin detection sensor is not constant. Moreover, it is a figure which shows the state which the uppermost coin loaded and accommodated is located in the lower end vicinity of the planar coil C3. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the coin number determination process at the time of power-on of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, or a coin accommodation cylinder is mounted | worn. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detection process at the time of coin acceptance of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and coin payout. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the determination process of the number of coins at the time of coin acceptance of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and coin payout. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the determination process of the number of coins at the time of the coin acceptance of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a coin payout.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of a coin processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the coin processing apparatus K according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the coin storage cylinder 11 detachable from the apparatus main body removed, and a cross-sectional view of the coin processing apparatus K. .

  The coin processing device K is, for example, a device mounted in a vending machine, and includes a coin dispensing device 37. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the coin processing device K includes a coin identification sensor 31 that identifies the type of coin dropped in the coin storage cylinder 11, and a coin distribution unit 32 that distributes the coins identified by the coin identification sensor 31. A coin detection sensor 10 for detecting the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11, a coin dispensing unit 33 for dispensing coins from the coin storage cylinder 11, a control unit 34 for controlling these parts, and coin storage A storage unit 36 having a storage area for storing a data table 39 and the like for determining the number of coins by comparing the number 38 of coins stored in the cylinder with the output of the coin detection sensor 10 is provided. Moreover, the control part 34 of the coin processing apparatus K is connected with the main control part 40 of a vending machine, as shown in FIG. 1, and each control signal is communicated bidirectionally.

  Moreover, the coin processing apparatus K shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is equipped with five coin storage cylinders 11, and a coin detection sensor 10 is provided for each coin storage cylinder 11. A coin dispensing unit 33 is provided below the coin storage cylinder 11. The coin processing device K configured as described above distributes the coins received from the coin insertion slot 13 to the coin storage cylinders 11 of different denominations and stores them one by one in the coin storage cylinder 11. When coins are paid out from the coin storage cylinder 11, coins are paid out one by one from the coin storage cylinder 11.

  The control unit 34 detects the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 based on the output of the coin detection sensor 10. Further, based on the output of the coin detection sensor 10, the receipt of coins into the coin storage cylinder 11 is detected, and the dispensing of coins from the coin storage cylinder 11 is detected.

Next, the relationship between the coin detection sensor 10 and the coin storage cylinder 11 included in the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the coin detection sensor 10 and the coin storage cylinder 11 mounted on the coin processing device K according to the embodiment of the present invention, and (a) is a schematic perspective view seen from the coin storage cylinder side. b) is a sectional view seen from the side. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of another coin detection sensor 10 and a coin storage cylinder 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic perspective view seen from the coin storage cylinder side, and (b) is a coin. The schematic perspective view seen from the detection sensor side, (c) is sectional drawing seen from the side. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the coin detection sensor 10 includes a plurality of coils, and the plurality of coils are provided on the substrate.

  3 and 4, the lower part of the coin storage cylinder 11 and the lower part of the substrate 12 on which a plurality of coils C included in the coin detection sensor 10 are provided are shown. The substrate 12 on which the planar coils C <b> 1 to C <b> 5 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are disposed is installed in the vicinity of the coin storage cylinder 11. Further, one surface of the substrate 12 is used so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the coin storage cylinder 11 that aligns and stores coins in a stacked manner, and is arranged along the coin stacking direction. The plurality of planar coils C1 to C5 provided in the coin detection sensor 10 are for detecting the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 10 in combination with an oscillation circuit (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4). Details of the circuit will be described later.

The planar coils C1 to C5 shown in FIG. 3 constitute one planar coil by electrically connecting the coiled conductor patterns formed in half on the first surface and the second surface of the substrate 12, respectively. ing. A plurality of coin detection areas are arranged in parallel on the first surface and the second surface of the substrate 12 so that the coin detection regions are partially overlapped with the adjacent planar coil in the coin stacking direction. It is.
When a plurality of planar coils are arranged in parallel in this way, an area where coins cannot be detected by one planar coil will be covered by overlapping planar coils, and the coins in the entire coin storage cylinder The number of sheets can be detected.

  Moreover, FIG. 4 is a figure which shows the other structure of the coin detection sensor with which the coin processing apparatus K which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is provided, (a) is a partial enlarged front view, (b) is a partial enlarged view. A rear view, (c) is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the front side pattern and the back side pattern.

  The coin detection sensor shown in FIG. 4 is arranged in parallel on the first surface of the substrate 12 so that the planar coil C1, the planar coil C3, and the planar coil C5 are aligned in the coin stacking direction. On the second surface (the back surface of the first surface), a plurality of planar coils C2, planar coils C4, and planar coils C6 are arranged in parallel so as to be aligned in the coin stacking direction. In addition, a plurality of planar coils arranged on the first surface and a plurality of planar coils arranged on the second surface are arranged in a staggered manner, and the planar coils arranged on the first surface and the second surface are arranged on the second surface. The lined flat coils are lined up so as to partially overlap when viewed from the coin storage cylinder side.

  That is, there is a region where a half of the planar coil C1 (coiled conductor pattern) is formed on the first surface of the substrate 12 and a region where a half of another planar coil C2 is formed on the second surface of the substrate 12. It overlaps in the thickness direction of the substrate. If it does in this way, the area | region which cannot detect a coin with one plane coil will be covered with the plane coil arrange | positioned overlappingly, and the number of coins of the whole coin storage cylinder will be detectable. The coin detection sensor 10 shown in FIG. 3 and the coin detection sensor 10 shown in FIG. 4 have the same coil configuration, but the circuit of the coin detection sensor is the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a coin detection sensor provided in the coin processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The coin detection sensor 10 includes a substrate 12 provided with a plurality of coils (coils C1 to C5 in the example of FIG. 5), an oscillation circuit 25 for oscillating one of the plurality of coils at a predetermined frequency, and a frequency. A counter 24 is provided. Moreover, it has the analog switch 21 which is connected to the some coil (coils C1-C5) and the oscillation circuit 25, and connects one coil with the oscillation circuit 25 based on control part 34 control of the coin processing apparatus K. The oscillation frequencies of the coils C1 to C5 are detected by the frequency counter 24 and supplied to the control unit 34 of the coin processing device K.

  Here, when the oscillation circuit 25 supplies an oscillation signal to generate an alternating magnetic field in the planar coil C, if there are coins in the vicinity of the planar coil C, the oscillation frequency increases as the number of existing coins increases. Changes toward higher. The oscillation frequency generated for the planar coil C is a frequency at which the magnetic field generated by the planar coil does not penetrate into the coin (metal) approaching the planar coil, and the distance between the planar sensor and the coin or the planar coil. The frequency is such that the frequency changes according to the area of the coins in contact.

  In FIG. 5, planar coils C <b> 1 to C <b> 5 are connected to a feedback circuit of an oscillator 25 in which an inverter composed of an operational amplifier 22, a capacitor, and a resistor are combined. The oscillation frequency depends on the inductance of the planar coil C that changes according to the number of coins.

Next, the relationship between the coins accommodated in the thus configured coin storage cylinder 11 and the output of the coin detection sensor 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the output of the coin detection sensor provided in the coin processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11.
FIG. 8 is a view showing the coin detection sensor 10 and the coin storage cylinder 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the distance between the coin loaded and stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 and the coin detection sensor 10 is constant. It is a state which is not, Comprising: Moreover, it is a figure which shows the state which the top coin loaded and accommodated is located in the lower end vicinity of the planar coil C2a.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inner diameter of the coin storage cylinder is slightly larger than the diameter of the coin. For example, in the case of a coin storage cylinder that stores 10 yen coins, the inner diameter of the coin storage cylinder is about 1 mm larger than the diameter of the 10 yen coin. For this reason, the distance between the coin storage cylinder and the coin detection sensor also varies between 0 mm and 1 mm.
At this time, the coil counter value when coins are stacked close to the coin detection sensor 10 is higher than the coil counter value when coins are stacked away from the coin detection sensor 10.

  FIG. 6 shows the counter values of the C1 to C3 coils when coins are stacked and accommodated so as to be closest to the coin detection sensor 10, and the coins are stacked and accommodated so as to be farthest from the coin detection sensor 10. It is a graph of the counter value of C1-C3 coil in the case.

  In FIG. 6, the counter value on the vertical axis indicates the value of the oscillation frequency of the planar coil (the value of the frequency counter) in the state where there is no coin in the coin storage cylinder 11 and the frequency that is increased by the coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11. This is a value calculated by obtaining a difference from a value (frequency counter value) and multiplying by a predetermined coefficient. The horizontal axis indicates the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11.

  This counter value is a value used when obtaining the number of coins to be stored with reference to a data table shown in FIG.

In the graph of FIG. 6, the value C <b> 1 </ b> A indicates the counter value of the C <b> 1 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked closest to the coin detection sensor 10. The value C1B indicates the counter value of the C1 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked farthest from the coin detection sensor 10.
Similarly, the value C2A indicates the counter value of the C2 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked closest to the coin detection sensor 10. The value C2B indicates the counter value of the C2 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked farthest from the coin detection sensor 10.
Similarly, the value C3A indicates the counter value of the C3 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked closest to the coin detection sensor 10. The value C3B indicates the counter value of the C3 coil when the coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 are stacked most apart from the coin detection sensor 10.

  FIG. 7 is a data table showing the relationship between the counter value based on the coil output of the coin detection sensor 10 of the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment and the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11. The data table 39 shown in FIG.

  In the coin processing apparatus K according to the first embodiment having such a configuration, the control unit 34 selects and oscillates any one of the plurality of coils included in the coin detection sensor 10 to detect the coin. The counter value is calculated by obtaining the output of the sensor 10, and the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 can be determined by comparing the calculated counter value with the data table shown in FIG.

  However, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when trying to determine the number of coins based on the output of the coin detection sensor 10, the distance between the accommodated coins and the coin detection sensor 10 varies, so the counter value is also different. Even when variations occur and the same number of coins are stored in the coin storage cylinder 11, an error occurs depending on the number of coins. On the other hand, when the number of coins is 0, 6, or 13, the counter value varies little and a correct number of coins without error can be detected. As described above, there are a number where an error occurs depending on the number of coins and a number where no error occurs.

  Specifically, in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, in the coil C1, when the counter value obtained from the output of the frequency counter 24 is “100”, the number of sheets may be two or three. is there. Here, it can be seen that one error exists.

  This is because the counter values are distributed with a certain range depending on how the coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, the counter value of the coil C1 becomes a locus like the value C1A when the coins are stacked closest to each other in the coin storage cylinder 11, and the coins are most separated in the coin storage cylinder 11 and stacked. If it is, the locus becomes a value C1B. Similarly, the coil C2 has trajectories such as values C2A and C2B, and the coil C3 has trajectories such as values C3A and C3B. As described above, there is a case where an error is included even if the number of sheets is determined by the counter value.

  On the other hand, when the counter output value obtained from the output of the frequency counter 24 is “0 to 5” in the coil C1, the number of sheets is specified when the number is zero. Here, the error in the number of coins is zero.

Similarly, in the coil C2, when the counter value obtained from the output of the frequency counter 24 is “20 to 25”, the number is specified when the number is six. That is, the error in the number of coins is zero. Similarly, in the coil C3, when the counter value obtained from the output of the frequency counter 24 is “20 to 25”, the number of sheets is specified when the number is 13, and again, the error of the number of coins is zero. .
Similarly, in the coil 4C, when the counter value obtained from the output of the frequency counter 24 is “20 to 25”, the number of sheets is specified as 20 sheets, and here, the error in the number of coins is zero. .

  Therefore, when the coin number determination result of the coin detection sensor 10 is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...), The determination result can be determined as zero error. The number of sheets (predetermined number) with which the measurement error of the coin detection sensor 10 is small is the number of coins when the uppermost coin stored in the stack is positioned near the lower end of the flat sensor.

  That is, as in the case of FIG. 8, the number of coins is a position (planar surface) in which the upper surface of the uppermost coin to be stacked is near the lower end of the planar coil C3 and the planar coil C3 is disposed. Compared with the case where the coin to be detected is in a position overlapping the planar coil when the number of coils (predetermined number) is equal to the position where the coil C3 and the coin do not overlap, the change in the oscillation frequency depends on the difference in the distance between the coin and the planar coil. Because the influence on is small, the exact number of coins can be detected.

  Next, an example of the coin number determination process of the coin processing apparatus K according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 11.

  The coin processing device K according to the first embodiment of the present invention compares the counter value calculated from the output of the coin detection sensor 10 with the data table 39 when the power is turned on or when the coin storage cylinder 11 is attached. The first coin number is determined, and the first coin number is stored in the storage unit 36 as the number of coins in the coin storage cylinder 11.

  In the standby state, the control unit 34 transmits each planar coil of the coin detection sensor 10 at a predetermined timing (periodically), thereby calculating a counter value from the output, and from the change in the counter value, the coin storage cylinder. 11, the receipt of coins to coin 11 and the dispensing of coins from coin storage cylinder 11 are detected.

  Further, the control unit 34 of the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment accepts each time when the coin detection sensor 10 detects the receipt of a coin or when the coin detection sensor 10 detects the dispensing of a coin. Sometimes it is added to the number of coins stored in the storage unit 36, and when paying out, the number of coins stored in the storage unit 36 is subtracted to calculate the second number of coins, and the number of coins stored in the storage unit 36 is The number of coins is updated to 2 and the counter value calculated from the output of the coin detection sensor 10 is compared with the data table 39 to obtain the third coin number. The obtained third coin number is an error. When it is determined that the number is a predetermined number (0 sheets, 6 sheets, 13 sheets, etc.) that does not include the second coin number, the second coin number stored in the storage unit 36 is corrected to the third coin number.

  In addition, the flow of FIG. 9 thru | or 11 has shown the coin number determination process with respect to one coin storage cylinder 11. FIG. The coin processing device K according to the first embodiment of the present invention performs this coin number determination process on each of five coin storage cylinders.

  First, the coin number determination process when the power is turned on or when the coin storage cylinder is mounted will be described with reference to FIG.

When the control unit 34 of the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment detects power-on or coin-carrying cylinder mounting, first, among the plurality of coils on the substrate 12, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The first coil is selected (S01).
In this flow, the coin processing device K is assumed to have Z plane coils. The first coil is the lowest coil among the plurality of planar coils included in the coin detection sensor, and is numbered in order from the lowest coil in the upward direction.
In addition, the coin processing device K is in a state in which the number of coins in the coin storage cylinder 11 is not stored in the storage unit 36 when the power is turned on or when the coin storage cylinder is attached. In addition, a zero error flag described later is cleared.

  Next, in step 02, it is determined whether or not the coil number exceeds Z number or is 0 or less. If it is determined that the coil number is greater than Z or less than 0 (NO in S02), it is recognized as abnormal (S03), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the coil number is 1 or more and Z or less in step 02 (YES in S02), the analog switches 21 and 23 are controlled to supply an oscillation signal to the selected coil, and the oscillation frequency from the coil is set to the frequency counter 24. And a counter value is obtained (S04).

  Next, the control unit 34 collates this counter value with the data table of the nth coil shown in FIG. 7, and the upper and lower limits of the data table corresponding to the nth coil whose counter value is currently oscillating. It is determined whether it is within the range (S05). If it is determined that the counter value is not within the upper and lower limits of the data table (NO in S05), the coil number is incremented to change the coil to be oscillated (S06). That is, the coil number is one higher than the current oscillating coil. Then, the process returns to step 02.

  If it is determined in step 05 that the counter value is within the upper and lower limits of the data table (YES in S05), then the first coin number determined by collation is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13). ...) is determined (S07).

  If it is determined in step 07 that the first coin number is not the predetermined number (NO in S07), it is determined whether or not the coin number matches the two numbers in the data table (S08).

  In step 08, when the determined number of coins does not correspond to two coin numbers in the data table, that is, when it is determined that the number of coins coincides with one value (for example, four in the case of the pulse counter 180 with the coil C1). (NO in S08), this number is stored in the storage unit 36 as the number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 (S09). Then, the number of the last oscillated coil and the calculated counter value are stored (S13), the process is terminated, and a waiting state is awaited for the coin accepting and dispensing processes.

  In step 07, the control unit 34 determines that the first coin number is not a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (NO in S07), and the first coin number is 2 in the data table. If it is determined that the number is equal to one (YES in S08) (for example, three or four in the case of the pulse counter 150 with the coil C1), the smaller one of these, that is, three is used as the coin storage cylinder. 11 is stored in the storage unit 36 as the number of coins accommodated in 11 (YES in S10). Then, the number of the last oscillated coil and the calculated counter value are stored (S13), the process is terminated, and a standby state is waited for the coin accepting or dispensing process.

  When the controller 34 determines in step 07 that the first coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (YES in S07), it is determined that the number of coins does not include an error. The number of coins stored in the coin storage cylinder 11 is stored in the storage unit 36 (S11), and the control unit 34 sets a zero error flag. That is, the error 0 sheet flag = 1 (S12). Then, the number of the last oscillated coil and the obtained counter value are stored (S13), the process is terminated, and a standby state is waited for a coin accepting or dispensing process.

  Next, coin acceptance detection and payout detection processing in the standby state of the coin processing device K will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 34 of the coin processing apparatus K in the standby state periodically executes the coin acceptance and payout detection processing shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, the coil having the number stored in the storage unit is selected (initial value n = n1) (S11). This n1 is the number of the last coil oscillated in the previous coin number determination process. For example, if the previous coin number determination process was when the power was turned on, the coil number stored in step 13 of FIG. 9 is n1.

  Next, the planar coil of n1 is oscillated, the output of the coin detection sensor 10 is acquired, and the counter value is calculated (S12).

  Next, the obtained counter value is compared with the counter value stored in the storage unit to determine whether the obtained counter value is larger than the counter value stored in the storage unit (S13). The counter value stored here is the counter value at the time of the last oscillation in the previous coin number determination process. (For example, if the previous coin number determination process was when the power was turned on, the counter value stored in step 13 in FIG. 9 is used.)

  In step 13 of FIG. 10, when the calculated counter value is larger than the counter value stored in the storage unit (YES in S13), the control unit 24 determines that a coin has been received, and determines the number of coins ( S15) is executed and the process ends. Details of the coin number determination process will be described later.

  On the other hand, if the obtained counter value is not larger than the counter value stored in the storage unit in step 13 of FIG. 10 (NO in S13), then the counter in which the obtained counter value is stored in the storage unit It is determined whether it is smaller than the value (S14).

  In step 14, when the obtained counter value is smaller than the counter value stored in the storage unit (YES in S14), the control unit 24 determines that the coin has been paid out, and executes the coin number determination process (S15). ) And finish. Details of the coin number determination process will be described later.

  On the other hand, in step 14, when the obtained counter value is not smaller than the counter value stored in the storage unit (when the obtained counter value does not change compared with the counter value stored in the storage unit) ( The process is ended and the process returns to the standby state. The coin processing device K that has returned to the standby state periodically repeats the processing of FIG. 10 and continues to monitor the receipt and withdrawal of coins to and from the coin storage cylinder.

  Note that the counter value may change due to electrical noise even if no coin is received or dispensed from the coin storage cylinder 11, and therefore, in step 13 and step 14, this is taken into consideration. Thus, for example, when the counter value does not change by 10 or more, a threshold value can be set so that it is not recognized as acceptance or payout.

  Next, in the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment, a process for determining the number of coins when coin acceptance or coin payout is detected will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the coin number determination process at the time of coin acceptance and coin payout by the coin processing apparatus K according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the coin number determination at S15 in FIG. It is a flow which shows a process in detail.

  In the process of FIG. 11, first, it is determined whether or not the zero error flag = 1 (S21). If it is determined that there is a zero control error flag = 1 (YES in S21), the number of stored coins is increased or decreased based on the detection result to calculate the second coin number, and the second coin number is calculated as a coin. The number is stored in the storage unit (S33). That is, when coin acceptance is detected in the coin acceptance and payout detection processing in the standby state of FIG. 10, the currently stored number of coins is updated to a value obtained by adding the accepted ones. In addition, when coin payout is detected, the number of coins currently stored is updated to a value obtained by subtracting one payout coin number.

  Next, the number of coins stored in step 33 is collated with the data table to obtain a coil number corresponding to the stored number of coins (S34), the obtained coil number and the current counter value are stored (S35), End the process and return to the standby state.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 34 determines in step 21 that there is no zero error flag = 1 (NO in S22), the stored coin number is increased or decreased based on the detection result in the same process as in step 33. Then, the second coin number is calculated and the coin number stored in the storage unit is updated to the second coin number (S22).

  Next, the stored counter value (counter value calculated in S12 in FIG. 10) is collated with the data table of the nth coil (coil number oscillated in S11 in FIG. 10), and the counter value is presently oscillated. It is determined whether or not the data table corresponding to the nth coil is within the upper and lower limits (S23).

  If the calculated counter value is within the upper and lower limits of the data table corresponding to the nth coil that is currently oscillating (YES in S23), the process proceeds to step 31 and the obtained counter value and The third coin number is determined by collating with the data table. Then, it is determined whether or not the third coin number determined based on the data table is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (S31).

  When it is determined in step 31 that the third coin number determined based on the data table is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (YES in S31), an error is detected in the determined third coin number. The second coin number stored in the storage unit 36 is corrected to the third coin number determined based on the data table and stored (S29). Then, a zero error flag is set, that is, a zero error flag = 1 is set (S30). Then, the process proceeds to step 35, where the obtained coil number and counter value are stored (S35), the process is terminated, and the process returns to the standby state.

  On the other hand, if the stored counter value is not within the upper and lower limits of the data table corresponding to the nth coil that is currently oscillating (NO in S23), the payout is then made in S14 of FIG. It is determined whether or not it has been detected (S24). If it is determined that the payout is detected (YES in S24), it is regarded as abnormal (S32), and the process is terminated.

  Note that when the normal coins are paid out and the flow of FIG. 11 is started, the coins are paid out one by one. This is because the previous number of coins whose coil number is decremented (n-1) is a predetermined number, so there should already be a zero error flag. Therefore, in the case of YES in step S24, the process is terminated assuming that an abnormality has occurred.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 23 that the data table is not within the upper limit or lower limit range (NO in S23), and if it is determined that it is not coin payout detection (NO in S24), the coil number is incremented to the next. Number coil (n + 1 coil) is selected (S25), and if the coil number exceeds Z number or is determined to be 0 or less (NO in S26), it is regarded as abnormal ( S32) The process ends. However, if not (YES in S26), the analog switches 21 and 23 are controlled to supply an oscillation signal to the selected coil, and the oscillation frequency from the coil is detected by the frequency counter 24 to calculate the counter value. (S27).

  Next, the counter value obtained in step 27 is compared with the data table corresponding to the selected coil number to determine the third coin number, and the third coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6 , 13...) (S28).

  If it is determined that the third number of coins determined in step 28 is not a predetermined number (NO in S28), it is regarded as abnormal (S32), and the process is terminated.

  Normally, since coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 13 of the coin processing device are stored one by one in the coin storage cylinder, NO in S24, and when the coil number is increased by one, it always matches the predetermined number. Should do. Therefore, when it is determined that the determined third coin number is not a predetermined number, the process is terminated as an abnormality.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the determined number of third coins is a predetermined number (YES in S28), it is determined that the number of coins does not include an error, and the second coins stored in the storage unit 36 are determined. The number is corrected to the third coin number and stored (S29). Then, a zero error flag is set, that is, the zero error flag = 1 is set (S30), the obtained coil number and the counter value are stored (S35), the process is terminated, and the process returns to the standby state.

  As described above, the control unit 34 of the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment is based on the counter value calculated by the coin detection sensor 10 and the data table when the power is turned on or when the coin storage unit 11 is mounted. A first coin number is determined and stored in the storage unit 36 as a coin storage number. Further, when the insertion of coins into the coin storage cylinder 11 or the dispensing of coins from the coin storage cylinder 11 is detected by the output of the coin detection sensor, the number of coins stored in the storage unit 36 is detected by the output of the coin detection sensor. In accordance with the detection result of the accepted or paid out, the number is updated and updated (the second coin number is stored in the storage unit as the number of coins), and the third value is calculated based on the counter value calculated by the coin detection sensor 10 and the data table. If the third coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...), The number stored in the storage unit 36 is corrected to the third coin number. Is. Thereby, it becomes possible to detect the number of coins without error.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an example of the coin number determination process of the coin processing device K according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using the flowchart of FIG.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, first, the coin detection sensor 10 detects the number of coins, performs a process of determining the first number of coins by collating a data table with a counter value, When the payout is detected, the third coin number is determined by comparing the counter value with the data table, and then it is determined whether or not it is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13, etc.) After detecting the predetermined number, the second coin number is calculated by adding and subtracting the number of coins based on the coin acceptance detection and the coin-out detection by the coin detection sensor, and the second coin number is stored in the storage unit. Is.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the coin processing device K provided with the coin detection sensor 10 and the coin detection sensor 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the process when the coin processing device K detects power-on or the coin storage cylinder 11 is mounted is the same process as the first embodiment (the same process as in FIG. 9). is there.
Also, the coin acceptance detection and coin payout detection processing in the standby state is the same processing as in the first embodiment (the same processing as in FIG. 10). In the second embodiment, the coin number determination process at the time of coin insertion and payment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 12, the control unit 34 of the coin processing device K according to the second embodiment detects that the coin detection sensor 10 has inserted a coin into the coin storage cylinder 11, or the coin is discharged from the coin storage cylinder 11. First, it is determined whether or not the zero error flag = 1 (S31).

  If it is determined that the error 0 flag = 1 (YES in S31), the stored number is increased or decreased according to the detection result (the second coin number is calculated and the second coin number is calculated). (Stored in the storage unit as the number of coins) (S41). That is, when the acceptance of a coin is detected, the value is updated to a value obtained by adding the accepted one to the currently stored number of coins. In addition, when the payout of coins is detected, the value is updated to a value obtained by subtracting one payout coin number from the currently stored number of coins.

  Next, the number of coins stored in the storage unit is compared with the data table to obtain the corresponding coil number n1 (S42), and then the obtained coil number n1 and the counter value are stored (S44). , The process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 34 determines that the error zero sheet flag is not 1 (NO in S31), the obtained counter value (the counter value obtained in S12 of FIG. 13) and the n-th coil ( The data table corresponding to the coil oscillated in S11 of FIG. 13 is collated, and it is determined whether or not the count value is within the upper and lower limits of the data table (S32).

  If it is determined in step 32 that the counter value is within the upper and lower limits of the data table of the nth coil that is currently oscillating, the third coin number is determined by comparing the counter value with the data table. It is determined, and it is determined whether or not the determined third coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (S38).

  If it is determined in step 38 that the obtained number of coins is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13...) (YES in S38), it is determined that the number of coins does not include an error, and the storage unit The number of coins stored in 36 is updated to the third number of coins S39). Then, the control unit 34 sets a zero error flag, that is, sets a zero error flag = 1 (S40). Then, the last oscillated coil number and counter value are stored (S44), the process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 38 that the third coin number is not a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (NO in S38), the number of coins determined based on the data table matches the two numbers. (S45), if it is determined that the number of coins coincides with one (for example, four in the case of the pulse counter 180 with the coil C1) (NO in S45), the third coin number is stored in the storage unit 36. (S47). Then, the last oscillated coil number and counter value are stored (S44), the process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of coins obtained in step 45 matches the two numbers (for example, three or four in the case of the pulse counter 150 with the coil C1) (YES in S45), the third number of coins The smaller one of the three, that is, three is stored in the storage unit 36 (S46). Then, the last oscillated coil number and counter value are stored (S47), the process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state.

  If it is determined in step 32 that the counter value is not within the upper and lower limits of the data table (NO in S32), it is then determined whether or not a payout is detected in S14 of FIG. 13 (S33). . If the payout is detected (YES in S33), it is regarded as abnormal (S43) and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the payout is not detected in step 33 (NO in S33), the coil number is incremented to change the coil (S34). Next, it is determined whether or not the coil number exceeds the Z number or the 0th or less (S35). Here, if the coil number exceeds Z number or is 0 or less (YES in S35), it is regarded as abnormal (S43), and the process is terminated.

  If the coil number is Z or less and 1 or more (YES in S35), the control unit 34 controls the analog switches 21 and 23 to supply an oscillation signal to the selected coil, and from the coil The oscillation frequency is detected by the frequency counter 24 to calculate the counter value (S36). Next, the third number of coins is determined by collation with the data table. Then, it is determined whether or not the determined third coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (S37).

  If it is determined that the third coin number is a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13...) (YES in S37), it is determined that the number of coins does not include an error, and the storage unit. The number of coins stored in 36 is updated to the third number of coins (S39). Then, the control unit 34 sets a zero error flag, that is, sets a zero error flag = 1 (S40). Then, the last oscillated coil number and counter value are stored (S44), the process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 37 that the third coin number is not a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13,...) (NO in S37), it is regarded as abnormal (S43) and the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the coin processing device K of the second embodiment, when the control unit 34 detects the insertion of the coin into the coin storage cylinder 11 or the discharge of the coin from the coin storage cylinder 11, the control unit 34 has already received the coin detection sensor 10. A coin indicating that a predetermined number (for example, 0, 6, 13...) Has been detected and a flag indicating that the predetermined number has been detected in the storage unit (if an error zero flag = 1 is stored), is detected by the coin detection sensor. The number of coins is increased / decreased based on the receipt of coins into the storage cylinder 11 or the result of coins being paid out from the coin storage cylinder 11.

  If the flag indicating that the predetermined number of sheets has been detected is not stored in the storage unit, the third coin is detected by comparing the counter value with the data table until the coin detection sensor 10 newly detects the predetermined number of sheets. A process of determining the number of sheets is performed, and when the third number of coins is a predetermined number, the number of coins stored in the storage unit is corrected to the third number of coins.

  As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described based on the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment and the coin processing device K according to the second embodiment. It is not limited to the coin processing apparatus K provided with a means, Naturally, a single coin dispensing apparatus may be sufficient. Further, any device may be used as long as it is a device in which the coin dispensing device is mounted inside the device. For example, an automatic coin change machine connected to a POS register device may be used.

  In the coin processing device K according to the first embodiment and the coin processing device K according to the second embodiment, the coin is received into the coin storage cylinder 11 or the coin is based on the output of the coin detection sensor 10. Although it has been described as detecting the payout of coins from the storage cylinder 11, the output of the coin identification sensor 31 provided in the coin processing device mounted on the vending machine and the coin passage detection provided in the sorting mechanism. You may make it detect acceptance of a coin based on the output of a sensor. When paying out coins from the coin storage cylinder 11, the payout may be detected based on the operation of the coin payout unit 33.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coin, 10 ... Coin detection sensor, 11 ... Coin storage cylinder, 13 ... Coin slot, C1-C5 ... Planar coil, C1a-C3a, C1b-C3b ... Planar coil, 12 ... Substrate, 21, 23 ... Analog switch , 22, operational amplifier, 24, frequency counter, 25, oscillation circuit, 31, coin identification sensor, 32, coin distribution unit, 33, coin dispensing unit, 34, control unit, 36, storage unit, 37, coin dispensing device, 38 ... number of coins, 39 ... data table, 40 ... vending machine main controller.

Claims (2)

A coin storage cylinder for storing coins;
An oscillation signal is individually given to a plurality of planar coils provided in parallel in the coin stacking direction on a substrate placed in the vicinity of the coin storage cylinder, and information based on the oscillation frequency generated from each of the planar coils is output. A coin detection sensor
A storage unit in advance the store coin detection data table showing the relationship between the output and the coin count to the stored in the coin storage cylinder sensors, also for storing the coins number of the coin storing cylinder,
Thereby detecting the payout and Re acceptance of the coins to the coin storage cylinder on the basis of the output of the coin detection sensors, a control unit for determining the coin number accommodated in the coin storing cylinder,
When the control unit is powered up to the coin processing apparatus, or when said coin storage cylinder is mounted, to determine a first coin number by matching with the output of the coin detection sensors data table , coins the number of first stored in the storage unit as the coin number of the coin storing cylinder,
Then, the acceptance or dispensing of the coin when it detects a change in the output of the coin detection sensors calculates the second coin count by increasing or decreasing the coin number stored in the storage unit, the second coin stores the number as the coin number of the coin storing cylinder,
The number of coins that can be determined to be zero error as a result of determining the number of coins by the coin detection sensor is set as a predetermined number ,
The third coin number is determined by comparing the output of the coin detection sensor after detecting the acceptance or withdrawal of the coin and the data table,
If the quantity of coins third is determined to the a predetermined number, the second coin number which has been stored in the storage unit, is corrected to the quantity of coins third,
A coin processing apparatus. The planar coil, the first and second surfaces of the substrate, in a state of partially overlapping through the substrate and the planar coil coin detection region are adjacent, so as to be aligned in the coin stacking direction are arranged in parallel a plurality shape, a coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a.

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