JP6361139B2 - Medium detection device, medium detection method, and change machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium detection device that detects a medium using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a medium detection method, and a change machine including the medium detection device.

  In a store such as a supermarket, a cash register system in which a change machine for depositing / withdrawing money is connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) register is widely used. The change machine automatically performs a deposit operation for storing the inserted coins and banknotes as deposits in an internal storage, and a withdrawal operation for the stored coins and banknotes as change based on a withdrawal instruction. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Such a change machine is usually provided with a medium detection device using an optical sensor in order to detect the insertion of coins and banknotes in the insertion unit and to detect the remaining coins and banknotes in the insertion unit. Yes. However, light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements such as LEDs and phototransistors used in optical sensors have a large variation in sensitivity among products, and there is a problem that the detection sensitivity of the medium is not stable.

  As a countermeasure to this problem, there is a method of adjusting the sensitivity by inserting a variable resistor (mechanical or electronic volume) in the light emitting circuit or the light receiving circuit (for example, see Patent Document 2). Will increase. In addition, there is a method of selecting an element with little variation by selecting a light emitting element and a light receiving element, but there are problems in terms of the availability of the element and the price increase due to selection.

JP 2009-223396 A JP 2000-339513 A

  As described above, in the medium detection device using the light emitting element and the light receiving element, it is desired that the variation in the elements can be absorbed and the detection sensitivity of the medium can be stabilized while the apparatus is configured at low cost.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems. A medium detection device, a medium detection method, and a medium detection device capable of stabilizing the detection sensitivity of a medium while configuring an apparatus at low cost. It aims at providing the change machine provided.

  The medium detection apparatus according to the present invention is a medium detection apparatus including a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element, and controls light emission and light extinction for the light emitting element. A light receiving portion that has a time constant, converts the amount of light received by the light receiving element into a time element, and generates a light receiving signal; A comparison unit for converting into a value; and a light emission time setting unit for changing the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on the binarized light reception signal and setting the light emission time after the change in the storage unit. Features.

  Further, the medium detection method according to the present invention is a medium detection method using a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element, in the light receiving element that is output based on a time constant. A light receiving step for generating a light reception signal by converting the amount of received light into a time element, a comparison step for binarizing the light reception signal, and a light emission time for changing the light emission time of the light emitting element based on the binarized light reception signal And a setting step.

  Furthermore, the change machine according to the present invention is a change machine that deposits and deposits deposits, has a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element, and the change. A medium detection device for detecting money handled by a machine, the medium detection device comprising: a light emission control unit for controlling a light emission time and a light extinction time of the light emitting element; a storage unit for storing the light emission time and the light extinction time; A light receiving unit that generates a light receiving signal by converting the amount of light received by the light receiving element into a time element, a comparison unit that binarizes the light receiving signal, and the binarized light receiving signal based on the binarized light receiving signal. And a light emission time setting unit for changing the light emission time stored in the storage unit and setting the light emission time after the change in the storage unit.

  According to such a configuration and method, by having the light emission time setting unit that changes and sets the light emission time at the light emitting element, the light emission time at the time of light reception detection at the light receiving element is obtained while adjusting the light emission time. The light emitting element can emit light with the light emission time. This makes it possible to absorb variations among products by simply changing the light emission time by software without taking measures to change the light emission current on the device side or to change the light reception sensitivity with an amplifier. The detection sensitivity can be stabilized, and the device can be configured at low cost.

  The medium detection device includes a sensitivity setting unit that changes detection sensitivity of the light emitting element and the light receiving element by changing the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on a plurality of preset setting values. Good. In the medium detection method, the sensitivity for changing the detection sensitivity of the light emitting element and the light receiving element is changed by changing the light emission time set in the light emission time setting step based on a plurality of preset values. It is good to have a setting step. Then, the detection sensitivity can be changed by changing the obtained light emission time at the time of detection of received light according to a preset setting value, and it is possible to flexibly and easily cope with the installation environment of the apparatus. it can.

  In this case, in the medium detection device, the plurality of setting values include a sensitivity priority setting value in which the light emission time is set to give priority to the detection sensitivity of the light receiving element, and the light emission time is set to the light emitting element and the light receiving element. It may also include a stain resistance priority setting value that sets the priority to stain resistance. In the medium detection method, the plurality of set values include a sensitivity priority setting value in which the light emission time is set to give priority to detection sensitivity by the light receiving element, and the light emission time is set to be a contamination of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The anti-smudge priority setting value that sets the priority to the resistance to the noise may be included. For example, depending on the place of use of a change machine equipped with a medium detection device, the vicinity of the input section where the medium detection device is installed is likely to be dirty, so even if it is somewhat dirty, it may not be a false detection. There are various circumstances, such as a place where it is difficult to detect the insertion due to the influence of extraneous light, and a case where it is desired to reliably detect the insertion even when a small number of coins or banknotes (for example, 1 yen per sheet) is inserted. Therefore, by setting the light emission time based on the sensitivity priority setting value and the anti-smudge priority setting value, the detection sensitivity can be flexibly changed according to the usage, based on the usage location, installation environment, actual situation of the installed store, etc. It is possible to switch to

  According to the present invention, it is possible to absorb the variation of each product and stabilize the detection sensitivity of the medium only by changing the light emission time of the light emitting element, so that the device can be configured at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a change machine including a medium detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the change machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the slot of the coin processing unit. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the internal structure of the inlet shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the medium detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of a light emitting / receiving circuit that constitutes a detection unit of the medium detection device illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for setting the light emission time of the light emitting element by the medium detection device. FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of light emission timing by the light emitting element. FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the light receiving state of the light receiving element with respect to the light emission timing shown in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a medium detection device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving preferred embodiments in relation to a change machine equipped with the device.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a change machine 12 including a medium detection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the change machine 12 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the change machine 12 is provided with the coin processing part 14 in charge of the deposit and withdrawal of a coin, and the banknote process part 16 in charge of the deposit and withdrawal of a banknote, The cash register system is connected to the POS terminal 18 and automatically deposits deposits and changes in a store such as a supermarket. The POS terminal 18 is connected via, for example, a host interface 12a provided in the coin processing unit 14.

  The coin processing unit 14 is a device that stores coins to be deposited into the insertion slot 20 inside, and pays out coins to be changed from the withdrawal slot 22 to the outside based on a withdrawal command. On the upper surface of the coin processing unit 14, an operation display unit 24 for displaying the amount of money to and from the change machine 12, the amount of money to be paid, etc., and for inputting various settings is provided. The banknote processing unit 16 is a device that stores therein banknotes to be deposited into the insertion slot 26 and pays out banknotes to be changed from the withdrawal slot 28 based on a withdrawal command. At the lower part of the banknote processing unit 16, a collection box 30 used for collecting banknotes stored therein is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the change machine 12 according to the present embodiment, a medium detection device 10 is provided at the insertion slot 20 for detecting coins inserted into the insertion slot 20 of the coin processing unit 14. A similar medium detection device (not shown) is also provided at the insertion port 26 of the banknote processing unit 16, but in the following, the configuration provided at the insertion port 20 of the coin processing unit 14 is illustrated as an example. The medium detection device 10 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the insertion slot 20 of the coin processing unit 14, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing the internal structure of the insertion slot 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insertion port 20 has a funnel shape in which a coin 32 can be inserted from above. A plurality of sets (three sets in the present embodiment) of light-emitting elements 34 a and light-receiving elements 34 b constituting the detection unit (light sensor) 34 of the medium detection device 10 are provided on the side surface of the insertion port 20. The light emitting element 34a and the light receiving element 34b, which are the same set, are arranged opposite to each other across a space where the inserted coin 32 falls, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 34a is received by the opposing light receiving element 34b, When this light is shielded by the coin 32, the insertion of the coin 32 is detected.

  The insertion port 20 has an endless transport belt 36 constituting the bottom, and a reverse roller 38 that faces the transport surface downstream of the transport direction of the coin 32 by the transport belt 36 and rotates in a direction opposite to the transport belt 36. And are provided. The coins 32 fed one by one by the reverse roller 38 while being transported by the transport belt 36 are further transported between an endless transport belt 40 and a transport plate 42 provided on the downstream side of the coin 32, and Deposited inside.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the medium detection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a light emission / light reception circuit constituting the detection unit 34 of the medium detection device 10 shown in FIG. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows a structural example.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control system of the medium detection apparatus 10 includes a storage unit 44, a light emission control unit 46, a light emitting element 34a, a light receiving unit 48 having a light receiving element 34b, a voltage comparator 50, and a light emission time. A setting unit 52.

  The storage unit 44 is a readable / writable memory, and stores the light emission time and light extinction time of the light emitting element 34 a that is driven and controlled by the light emission control unit 46. The light emission time stored in the storage unit 44 may be rewritten to the light emission time newly calculated and set by the light emission time setting unit 52.

  The light emission control unit 46 is a control unit that controls the light emission time and the light extinction time of the light emitting element 34 a based on the settings stored in the storage unit 44.

  The light emitting element 34a is, for example, an LED (light emitting diode). As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit on the light emitting element 34a side includes resistors R1, R2, and R3 and a transistor Q.

  The light receiving unit 48 includes a light receiving element 34b, and converts the amount of light received by the light receiving element 34b into a time element to generate a light receiving signal. The light receiving element 34b is, for example, a phototransistor. As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit on the light receiving element 34b side includes resistors R4, R5, R6, and R7, and a voltage comparator 50.

  The voltage comparator 50 is a comparator that compares two input voltages, binarizes them, and outputs them. In the voltage comparator 50, the output voltage from the light receiving element 34b is input to the plus side input terminal, and the power supply voltage of the light receiving element 34b is input to the minus side input terminal, for example, the median value (for example, pull-up voltage (5V)) 2.5V) is input.

  The light emission time setting unit 52 changes the light emission time stored in the storage unit 44, and sets the light emission time after the change in the storage unit 44. Although details will be described later, the light emitting element 34a and the light receiving element 34b. The light emission time is appropriately adjusted based on the result of the light shielding detection by the light receiving element 34b in order to suppress variations among products. Further, the light emission time setting unit 52 has a plurality of setting values (in this embodiment, sensitivity priority setting value, anti-smudge priority setting value) in which the light emission time stored in the storage unit 44 is set in advance by the operation display unit 24 or the like. A sensitivity setting unit 54 that changes based on The sensitivity setting unit 54 can set the detection sensitivity of the light emitting element 34a and the light receiving element 34b to a setting suitable for the environment and actual situation of the store where the change machine 12 is installed.

  By the way, in such a medium detection apparatus 10, the presence / absence detection of an impermeable object such as the coin 32 is treated as a digital presence / absence of the coin 32 by taking the light emitting element 34a as an example. When light is not detected (when light is transmitted), the light receiving element 34b side is at a saturation voltage (approximately 0 V in the portion B in FIG. 6), and when the coin 32 is detected (when light is blocked), the light receiving element 34b side is at the power supply voltage (FIG. 6). In the part B, for example, the pull-up voltage is 5 V).

  However, in actuality, the light receiving element 34b such as a phototransistor has a capacitance Cob between the collector and the base, and is equivalently integrated by the load resistor RL. From the time constant CR, the response time (turn-on) Time) t = a (coefficient) × Cob × hFE × RL. Therefore, even if the light emitting element 34a is lit (ON), the saturation voltage is not instantaneously reached but gradually reaches the saturation voltage (0 V) due to the time constant CR. On the other hand, when the light emitting element 34a is turned off before reaching the saturation voltage (OFF), a triangular waveform that gradually reaches the pull-up voltage (5V) by the time constant CR is shown.

  Note that hFE in the above equation is a sensitivity for converting received light energy into current, and the current value changes due to variations in the light receiving element 34b for each product or a decrease in the amount of light received due to dirt, and the followability to ON / OFF of the light emitting element 34a. Worsens (delays). For this reason, when the light emitting element 34a is turned on / off for a predetermined time, even if it is a trapezoidal waveform having a saturated portion in a state without contamination, as the contamination progresses, the time for saturation decreases and further contamination occurs. When the amount of light decreases, a triangular waveform is obtained. On the contrary, even in a state where a sufficient amount of photoelectricity is obtained without contamination, a triangular waveform can be obtained with the time constant CR by shortening the ON / OFF interval on the light emitting element 34a side. That is, by making the ON / OFF time of the light emitting element 34a shorter than the normal time, it is possible to capture the phenomenon of photocurrent due to element variation and contamination.

  Therefore, in order to recognize the above-described event in the arithmetic unit of the circuit, in the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, the median value (2.5 V) of the pull-up voltage is given as one input voltage of the voltage comparator 50, and the other A voltage from the light receiving element 34b is given as an input voltage. As a result, 0V is obtained at the C portion when the received light voltage is saturated, and 5V (pull-up voltage) is obtained at the C portion when the light emitting side is OFF or a coin is detected.

  Therefore, if the light emitting element 34a is scanned from a short light emission time to a gradually long lighting time, the time required to change from 5 V to 0 V can be obtained at the C portion. When the light emission time is set in the vicinity of the time when the C portion has changed from 5V to 0V, the sensitivity of finding the presence of the coin 32 increases, but conversely, the presence of the coin 32 is detected even if there is some dirt. It can be said that it becomes easy to be in a false detection state.

  Next, an operation example of the medium detection device 10 configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for setting the light emission time of the light emitting element 34 a by the medium detection device 10.

  The light emission time setting operation of the light emitting element 34a shown in FIG. 7 may be executed at an arbitrary timing in a dedicated setting mode different from the normal detection operation in the change machine 12, for example. It may be automatically executed as appropriate after the end of the detection operation (payment operation), or may be executed as one of initial settings when the change machine 12 is installed.

  First, in step S1 of FIG. 7, the light emission time memory stored in the storage unit 44 is initialized, and an initial light emission time memory value is set. Subsequently, in step S2, the light emitting element 34a is caused to emit light with the light emission time memory value set in step S1 under the control of the light emission control unit 46.

  In step S3, the light emission control unit 46 continues to determine whether or not the light emission time by the light emitting element 34a has reached the light emission time memory value (No in step S3), and when it is determined that the light emission time memory value has been reached. (Yes in step S3), the light blocking / light emitting state (switching time T1) from the light blocking state to the light transmitting state in the light emitting element 34b at that time is recorded in the storage unit 44, and the light emitting element 34a is turned off ( Step S4).

  Next, in step S6, whether or not the light receiving element 34b detects a light receiving state immediately before the light is turned off in step S5, that is, the light receiving unit 48 remains in the light shielding state even though the light emitting element 34b emits light. It is determined whether or not a light reception state is detected (light reception step and comparison step). If the light shielding is detected based on the determination result in step S6 (Yes in step S6), steps S7 to S9 are executed. If the light reception is detected (No in step S6), step S10 is performed. ˜S12 is executed.

  Here, with respect to detection of light shielding or light transmission in the light receiving element 34b based on light emission (lighting) of the light emitting element 34a in steps S1 to S6, and a switching time T1 between the light shielding state and the light transmitting state, FIG. A specific description will be given with reference to the time chart of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of light emission timing by the light emitting element 34a, and FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a light receiving state of the light receiving element 34b with respect to the light emission timing shown in FIG. Part A in FIG. 8 shows the voltage state at part A in FIG. 6. Chart (1) in FIG. 8 emits light for a short time only at time t1, and chart (3) shows Light emission is performed for a long time from time t1 to time t3, and chart (2) shows a state in which light emission is performed for time from time t1 to time t2 when the light emission time setting unit 52 adjusts the light emission time. Moreover, the B part and C part shown in FIG. 9 have each shown the state of the voltage in the B part and C part in FIG. 6 during light emission of the light emitting element 34a, The chart (4) in FIG. 8 corresponds to chart (1), chart (5) in FIG. 9 corresponds to chart (2) in FIG. 8, and chart (6) in FIG. 9 corresponds to chart (3) in FIG. It corresponds to.

  The element of the lifetime of the light emitting element 34a is current value × time. Therefore, in order to use the light emitting element 34a for a long period of time, it is common to intermittently emit light as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light-shielding detection in step S6 is performed by determining whether the light-emitting element 34a emits light for a predetermined time within a predetermined fixed period and determining whether light is received immediately before turning off.

  More specifically, in the present embodiment, in a state where no coin 32 is present in the detection unit 34, within a fixed period of 1 ms (milliseconds) (interval between times t1 to t20 in FIG. 8), 0.1 ms The light is emitted (between times t1 and t2 in FIG. 8), and it is determined whether or not the light receiving element 34b has received light immediately before the light is turned off. That is, the light receiving unit 48 detects light reception in increments of 0.01 ms within the light emission time of 0.1 ms, and in step S4 in FIG. 7, the light reception signal generated by converting the amount of light received by the light receiving element 34b into a time element. Is binarized by the voltage comparator 50 to obtain the light emission time when switching from the light-shielded state (no light reception) to the non-light-shielded state (light reception) as the switching time T1, which is stored in the storage unit. 44.

  For example, in the chart (4) in FIG. 9, since the voltage at the B portion in FIG. 6 has not reached the center line M indicating the median value (2.5V) of the pull-up voltage (5V), the voltage comparison The voltage of the C section becomes the saturation voltage (0V) by the device 50, and does not change to the state of receiving light. On the other hand, in the chart (5) in FIG. 9, since the voltage at the B portion in FIG. 6 exceeds the center line M, the voltage at the C portion is pulled while the voltage at the B portion exceeds the center line M. It becomes an up voltage (5V) and shifts to a state with light reception. Similarly, in the chart (6) in FIG. 9, since the voltage at the B portion in FIG. 6 exceeds the center line M, the voltage at the C portion is high while the voltage at the B portion exceeds the center line M. It becomes a pull-up voltage (5V) and changes to a state with light reception. Then, as shown in these charts (5) and (6), the light emission time at the time of transition from the state without light reception to the state with light reception is determined as the switching time T1.

  Returning to FIG. 7, first, in the light blocking detection determination in step S6, if light blocking is detected (Yes in step S6), light reception is performed in the light emission time with the light emission time memory values performed in steps S2 to S5 of this time. This means that the transition to the present state is not performed and the switching time T1 cannot be obtained (see, for example, the chart (4) in FIG. 9). Therefore, in step S7, the light emission time setting unit 52 sets the (current) light emission time memory value to a predetermined investigation time (for example, time 0 for time t2 with the chart (1) in FIG. 8 as the chart (2)). .1 ms) is added, recorded as a new light emission memory value in the storage unit 44, and adjusted to extend the light emission time of the light emitting element 34a (light emission time setting step).

  In step S8, it is determined whether or not the light emission time memory value newly set in step S7 is within a preset settable time range. The settable time range defines an upper limit value of the light emission time of the light emitting element 34a, and is set to prevent the light emission time from being excessively extended and adversely affecting the life of the light emitting element 34a. Yes. If it is determined in step S8 that the light emission time memory value is outside the settable time range (No in step S8), a setting impossible error is set (step S9), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that the light emission time memory value is within the settable time range (Yes in step S8), the process returns to step S2, and the light emission time memory value newly set in step S7 is used. The light emitting element 34a emits light again. By repeating the operations from step S2 to step S8, the light emission time is extended by the investigation time added in step S7 each time it is executed.

  As a result, when the light shielding is not detected in the light shielding detection determination in step S6, that is, when the light reception is detected (No in step S6), the light emission time memory value implemented in the current steps S2 to S5 is used. That is, the transition to the light receiving state is made during the light emission time, and the switching time T1 is obtained (see, for example, the chart (5) in FIG. 9). Therefore, step S10 is executed, and whether the light shielding priority is set in advance for the sensitivity setting unit 54 in the medium detection device 10 (Yes in step S10) or whether the anti-dirt priority is set in advance (step S10). 10 No) is determined.

  Specifically, with respect to the switching time T1 as described above, if the amount of light received by the light receiving element 34b is large, the light receiving state is reached in a short time. If the light is not emitted, it is impossible to switch to the light receiving state. In other words, the detection unit 34 that receives light in a short time is sufficiently saturated (0 V) with light emission for a fixed light emission time (for example, 0.1 ms), so it is difficult to detect the coin 32, and conversely for a long time. In the detection unit 34 that shifts to receiving light, the coin 32 is easily detected when light is emitted for a predetermined time, that is, the detection sensitivity is high.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, for each medium detection device 10, the light emission time at the time of detection transition is set as in step S4 according to the installation environment such as the change machine 12 on which the medium detection device 10 is installed and the circumstances of the installation store. Further, whether to set detection sensitivity to priority (sensitivity priority setting) or to prioritize dirt resistance (stain resistance priority setting) is set in advance by the operation display unit 24 or the like. .

  If sensitivity priority setting is set in the shading priority determination in step S10 (Yes in step S10), step S11 is executed, and the sensitivity setting unit 54 sets a predetermined light shielding priority to the current light emission time memory value. A new light emission time memory value (sensitivity priority setting value) obtained by adding the time is calculated (sensitivity setting step), and the process ends. This sensitivity priority setting value is set to be 1.5 times the switching time T1 recorded in step S4, for example. On the other hand, if the stain resistance priority setting is set (No in step S10), step S12 is executed, and the sensitivity setting unit 54 sets a predetermined stabilization time (dirt resistance priority time) to the current light emission time memory value. A new light emission time memory value (anti-smudge priority setting value) is added (sensitivity setting step), and the process ends. This sensitivity priority setting value is set to be 2.0 times the switching time T1 recorded in step S4, for example. Thereafter, the medium detection device 10 causes the light emitting element 34a to emit light with the new light emission time memory value (sensitivity priority setting value or antifouling priority setting value) set as described above. It should be noted that, after setting the sensitivity priority in step S11, if a false detection occurs due to contamination, the light emission time may be automatically extended.

  As described above, the medium detection device 10 according to the present embodiment includes the light emission control unit 46 that controls the light emission time and the light emission time of the light emitting element 34a, the storage unit 44 that stores the light emission time and the light emission time, and the time constant CR. A light receiving unit 48 for generating a light receiving signal by converting the amount of light received by the light receiving element 34b into a time element, and a voltage comparator (comparing unit) 50 for binarizing the light receiving signal. A light emission time setting unit 52 configured to change the light emission time stored in the storage unit 44 based on the light reception signal and set the light emission time after the change in the storage unit 44;

  Thus, by having the light emission time setting unit 52 that changes and sets the light emission time at the light emitting element 34a, the light emission time at the time of light reception detection at the light receiving element 34b is obtained while adjusting the light emission time, and the light emission at that time The light emitting element 34a can emit light over time. As a result, it is possible to change the light emission current on the device side of the medium detection device 10 or to change the light emission sensitivity by changing the light emission time as described above without taking measures to change the light receiving sensitivity with an amplifier. Can be absorbed, the detection sensitivity of the medium can be stabilized, and the apparatus can be configured at low cost. For example, in the present embodiment, it is possible to set the light emission time in consideration of the variation of each product of the light emitting element 34a and the light receiving element 34b by the processing of steps S2 to S8 in FIG.

  In the medium detection device 10, the light emission time stored in the storage unit 44 is changed based on a plurality of preset setting values (sensitivity priority setting value or anti-smudge priority setting value), so that the light emitting element 34 a and the light receiving element 34 are received. A sensitivity setting unit 54 that changes the detection sensitivity of the element 34b is provided. Thereby, the detection sensitivity can be changed by further changing the light emission time at the time of detecting the received light obtained as described above according to a preset value, so that the installation environment of the medium detection device 10 can be changed. It can respond flexibly and easily. For example, in the present embodiment, the light emission time can be set in consideration of the installation environment of the medium detection device 10 by the processing of steps S10 to S12 in FIG.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the change machine 12 according to the above embodiment, the configuration in which the medium detection device 10 is provided in the insertion port 20 of the coin processing unit 14 is exemplified. It may be provided in the withdrawal port 22, 28 of the coin processing unit 14 or the banknote processing unit 16. Furthermore, the medium detection device 10 is appropriately used for detecting coins handled by the change machine 12, such as in the middle of a conveyance path of coins and bills installed in the change machine 12, or at the entrance or exit of a storage. it can.

  Further, the medium detection device 10 as described above is used for detecting money other than the change machine 12, for example, in a depositing / withdrawing machine in a store (not shown) where the change machine 12 is installed, and for detecting items other than money. Of course it may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Medium detection apparatus 12 Change machine 14 Coin processing part 16 Banknote processing part 20,26 Slot 24 Operation display part 32 Coin 34 Detection part 34a Light emitting element 34b Light receiving element 44 Memory | storage part 46 Light emission control part 48 Light receiving part 50 Voltage comparator 52 Light emission time setting section 54 Sensitivity setting section

Claims (7)

A medium detection device including a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element,
A light emission control unit for controlling a light emission time and a light extinction time of the light emitting element;
A storage unit for storing the light emission time and the turn-off time;
A light receiving unit that has a time constant and generates a light reception signal by converting the amount of light received by the light receiving element into a time element;
A comparator for binarizing the received light signal;
A light emission time setting unit that changes the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on the binarized light reception signal, and sets the light emission time after the change in the storage unit;
A sensitivity setting unit that changes the detection sensitivity of the light emitting element and the light receiving element by changing the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on a plurality of preset setting values;
A medium detection apparatus comprising: The medium detection device according to claim 1 ,
The plurality of setting values are a sensitivity priority setting value in which the light emission time is set to give priority to detection sensitivity by the light receiving element, and the light emission time is set to give priority to resistance to contamination of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A medium detection apparatus including a stain resistance priority setting value. A medium detection method using a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light emitted from the light emitting element,
A light receiving step for converting a received light amount at the light receiving element output based on a time constant into a time element to generate a light receiving signal;
A comparison step for binarizing the received light signal;
A light emission time setting step of changing a light emission time of the light emitting element based on the binarized light reception signal;
A sensitivity setting step of changing detection sensitivity in the light emitting element and the light receiving element by changing the light emission time set in the light emission time setting step based on a plurality of preset values;
A medium detection method characterized by comprising: The medium detection method according to claim 3 ,
The plurality of setting values are a sensitivity priority setting value in which the light emission time is set to give priority to detection sensitivity by the light receiving element, and the light emission time is set to give priority to resistance to contamination of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A medium detection method comprising: a stain resistance priority setting value. A change machine for depositing and depositing deposits,
A medium detecting device having a light emitting element and a light receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element, and detecting a currency handled by the change machine;
The medium detection device includes a light emission control unit that controls a light emission time and a light extinction time of the light emitting element;
A storage unit for storing the light emission time and the turn-off time;
A light receiving unit that has a time constant and generates a light reception signal by converting the amount of light received by the light receiving element into a time element;
A comparator for binarizing the received light signal;
A light emission time setting unit that changes the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on the binarized light reception signal, and sets the light emission time after the change in the storage unit;
A sensitivity setting unit that changes the detection sensitivity of the light emitting element and the light receiving element by changing the light emission time stored in the storage unit based on a plurality of preset setting values;
A change machine characterized by comprising: In the change machine according to claim 5,
The plurality of setting values are a sensitivity priority setting value in which the light emission time is set to give priority to detection sensitivity by the light receiving element, and the light emission time is set to give priority to resistance to contamination of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A change machine including a dirt-resistant priority setting value. In the change machine according to claim 5 or 6,
The medium detecting device is provided at least in a money slot in the change machine, and detects the money thrown into the slot.

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