JP6413307B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus, and more particularly to a method for discriminating between coins and foreign matters when coins are dispensed when foreign matters are mixed in a coin dispensing hopper.

  Cash processing devices (coin processing devices) are installed in backyards (offices) such as supermarkets and shopping malls that have multiple POS cash registers. ) And cash (change + sales) is inserted (paid) after the end of the business. Further, the cash processing apparatus is configured to store cash for change in a recyclable banknote cassette and a coin dispensing hopper, and store cash for sales in a collection cassette. Workers and guards recover the sales from the recovery cassette.

  A conventional coin processing device (coin depositing / dispensing machine) feeds a plurality of coins input into a coin hopper (coin dispensing hopper) provided for each denomination to a conveyance path, an optical sensor, and a member detection sensor. The normal coins detected in (1) are withdrawn to a coin dispensing safe, collected in a coin collection box, and rejected coins and foreign objects are stored in a reject box.

  Patent Document 1 describes a coin depositing / dispensing machine configured to notify an operator that, when a coin conveyance abnormality occurs, conveyance should be stopped and coins on a conveyance path or the like should be removed. Has been.

JP 2007-249840 A

In the conventional coin processing apparatus, when foreign matter (staple needle, clip, washer, etc.) is mixed in the coin dispensing hopper, the foreign matter is fed out to the transport path when the coin dispensing operation is executed. was there.
Here, since the staple needle and the clip have a narrow width, the optical sensor cannot detect it as a foreign object. For this reason, since an optical sensor does not mistake a foreign material for a coin, the number of foreign materials is not counted as a coin, and a problem of cash trouble cannot occur. However, since staples and clips of staples cannot be detected by an optical sensor, there is a problem that they are stored as foreign matter in a coin dispensing safe or a coin collection box.

  On the other hand, there is a problem that a foreign object having a certain width such as a washer is detected by an optical sensor and is counted as a coin. Here, it is conceivable to use a proximity sensor (metal sensor) that can detect metal by electromagnetic induction. However, when the central portion of the washer reaches the proximity sensor, an eddy current flows through the washer annular portion, and the detection waveform of the proximity sensor becomes equivalent to a coin. That is, it is very difficult to distinguish between a washer and a coin, resulting in a problem that a cash trouble occurs.

Accordingly, it is an object to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of removing foreign matter.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, a transport path in which transport path plates face each other up and down, and a non-translucent medium (coin, paper, plastic) that passes through the transport path. a coin processing apparatus including an optical sensor for detecting the lower the transport path plate, the are light emitting portion of the optical sensor is opened a hole which passes through the irradiation light for irradiating the pre said hole A foreign matter storage box for storing the fallen foreign matter is provided . Here, “the conveyance path on which the conveyance path plates are opposed to each other” includes a conveyance path on which the conveyance path plates are opposed to each other in an inclined manner.

According to the present invention, it is possible to remove the foreign matter.

It is a whole block diagram of the coin processing apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the money type hopper part of the coin processing apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a rotating disk part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation | movement which pays out the coin by a payout bearing and a payout arm. It is a side view which shows the structure of a different denomination discrimination | determination part. It is a block diagram of a member detection sensor board | substrate. It is an output waveform diagram of the member detection sensor used in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the different denomination discrimination | determination part used by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the different denomination discrimination | determination part used by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an output waveform diagram of the member detection sensor used in the second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement for every foreign material of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the foreign material discrimination | determination method of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is another explanatory drawing for demonstrating the foreign material discrimination | determination method of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the different denomination discrimination | determination part used with the coin processing apparatus of a comparative example. It is a top view which shows the structure of the different denomination discrimination | determination part used with the coin processing apparatus of a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each figure is only schematically shown so that the present invention can be fully understood. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the common component and the same component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a coin processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The coin processing apparatus 1 discriminates the received medium (coin) and sorts it for each denomination, separates the selected coin and foreign matter, and collects six coins (not shown) to a collection box (not shown) ) Hopper sections 60a to 60f according to denomination, a coin safe 70, a coin collection box 80, a reject box 90, and a foreign matter storage box 310.

  The depositing unit 2 includes a coin receiving unit 10, a coin feeding unit 20, a coin discriminating unit 30, a sorting conveyance path 40, and a reject coin storing unit 50. The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the coin processing apparatus. The control unit 100 includes a control unit (CPU (Central Processing Unit)) that controls the operation of each component described above, and a control unit. And a storage unit for storing various data.

  The coin receiving unit 10 is a member that has an inner surface formed in a funnel shape and receives a plurality of coins to be inserted. The coin feeding unit 20 is a member that is disposed below the coin receiving unit 10 and feeds the coins dropped from the coin receiving unit 10 one by one to the next stage (coin determination unit 30). The coin feeding unit 20 is provided with a rotating disk (not shown), for example, and the coins are moved by the centrifugal force when the rotating disk rotates, and the coins are fed to the coin discriminating unit 30 one by one. . The coin discriminating unit 30 discriminates the authenticity, denomination, etc. of the coin C fed from the coin feeding unit 20. The coin discriminating unit 30 has a sensor (not shown) for recognizing the coin C, and discriminates the authenticity of the coin, the denomination, etc. based on the characteristics of the coin recognized by the sensor. The coin discriminating unit 30 conveys the discriminated coins to the sorting conveyance path 40.

  Based on the discrimination result by the coin discriminating unit 30, the sorting and conveying path 40 sorts the discriminated coins by dropping them into a plurality of coin sorting holes provided for each denomination while transporting the coins C. The reject coin storage unit 50 stores a coin that has been determined not to be a true coin by the coin determination unit 30. The rejected reject coin is conveyed to the reject coin storage unit 50 by the route indicated by the arrow R.

  The coin dispensing safe 70 is a storage for storing coins to be dispensed to the outside when an operator wants to withdraw coins, and coins are stored along the route indicated by the arrow S from the transport path 200 (FIG. 2). The coin collection box 80 is a collection box for storing coins when a worker or a policeman wants to collect sales money, specifying collection and collecting the sales money. Coins sorted by denomination Is recovered by the route indicated by the arrow T. The reject store 90 is a store for storing rejected reject coins, and in particular, stores coins determined to be of different denomination (abnormal) by the different denomination discriminating unit 110. The foreign matter storage box 310 is a storage for storing foreign matter that has been judged as foreign matter by the different denomination determining unit 110 or that has fallen from the conveyance path without passing through the different denomination determining unit 110.

Each of the denomination hopper units 60 a to 60 f includes a tank unit 65, a conveyance path 200 (FIG. 2), and a different denomination determination unit 110.
The tank unit 65 is a member that stores coins C that are sorted by denomination in the sorting transport path 40 and fall through the coin sorting holes. The different denomination discriminating unit ll0 functions as a selection unit for detecting whether or not different denominations are mixed in the coins fed out from the respective denomination hopper units.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the denomination hopper portion of the coin processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In addition to the components of the tank unit 65, the conveyance path 200, and the different denomination discriminating unit 110 described in FIG. 1, the denomination hopper units 60a to 60f further include a rotating disk 130 and a drive unit 140, and include a conveyance path. 200 includes withdrawal destination switching units (switching guides) 210a and 210b for switching the withdrawal destinations (coin dispensing safe 70, coin collection store 80, and reject store 90).

  The rotating disk 130 is a metal circular member that is provided at a lower portion of the tank portion 65 and is inclined at a lower surface of the tank portion 65 from a horizontal plane. The transport protrusion 170 transports the coin C while supporting the coin C when the rotary disk 130 rotates in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 3).

The drive unit 140 includes a motor 150 and a motor gear 160, and the motor 150 is configured to rotate the rotating disk 130 via the motor gear 160.
The different denomination determining unit 110 includes optical sensors 180 a and 180 b and member detection sensors 190 a and 190 b on the transport path 200.

  The withdrawal destination switching units 210a and 210b pass the coins fed out from the tank unit 65 through the transport path 202 along the route indicated by the arrow S (FIG. 1), and the coin withdrawal safe 70 is used as the withdrawal destination. The withdrawal destination switching sections 210a and 210b pass the coins fed out from the tank section 65 through the transport path 203 along the route indicated by the arrow T (FIG. 1), and use the coin collection box 80 as the withdrawal destination. The withdrawal destination switching units 210a and 210b pass the coins fed from the tank unit 65 through the transport path 220 along the route indicated by the arrow U (FIG. 1), and the reject box 90 is used as the withdrawal destination.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rotating disk portion, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of feeding out coins by a feeding bearing and a feeding arm.
The rotating disk 130 is formed with a plurality (four) of cylindrical through holes 230 through which the coins C pass. The inner diameter of the through hole 230 is set according to the outer diameter of the coin C that passes therethrough. On the rear surface of the rotating disk 130 and on the outer periphery of the through hole 230, a conveying protrusion 170 (FIG. 2) is provided.

  The gate 201 is an entrance of the conveyance path 200 where the coins C are conveyed one by one. As shown in FIG. 3, the gate 201 is provided with a feeding bearing 240 and a feeding arm 250. The feeding arm 250 can rotate around a rotation fulcrum (not shown). Then, with the movement of the feeding arm 250 in the direction of the arrow X, the coin C sandwiched between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250 is fed out.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the coin feeding operation by the feeding bearing and the feeding arm.
When the dispensing operation is instructed by the control unit 100 (FIG. 1), the rotating disk 130 is rotated so that the transfer protrusion 170 (FIG. 2) provided on the rotating disk 130 causes the coin C to be transferred to the gate 201. Transport in the direction. As shown in FIG. 4A, the coin C is sandwiched between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the feeding arm 250 moves in the direction of the arrow X, the coin C moves to the optical sensors 180a and 180b.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the center of the coin C moves to the optical sensor 180a, 180b side from the virtual line (two-dot chain line) connecting the centers of the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250, The feeding arm returns in the direction of arrow Y by a spring (compression coil spring). Next, with the movement of the feeding arm in the direction of the arrow Y, the coin C is flipped off (drawn out) and passes through the optical sensors 180a and 180b. When the optical sensors 180a and 180b detect the passing coin C, the control unit 100 (FIG. 1) counts that one coin has been paid out.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the different denomination determining unit.
The different denomination discriminating unit 110 (110a) is provided in each of the denomination hopper units 60a to 60f, and includes optical sensors 180a and 180b that detect the presence or absence of the coin C, and a member detection sensor that detects a member of the coin C. 190a, 190b. The optical sensors 180a and 180b are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the conveyance path 200 so that the light emitting unit (optical sensor 180b) that emits light and the light receiving unit (optical sensor 180a) that receive light are opposed to each other. It is a transmissive sensor fixed to the optical sensor mounting plates 114 and 115 provided. Here, the optical sensors 180a and 180b have a semiconductor light emitting element and a transparent sealing member for sealing the semiconductor light receiving element.

The optical sensors 180 a and 180 b detect the coin C fed by the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250.
The hole 113a and the foreign substance drop hole 300 shown in FIG. 5 are holes through which light emitted from the light emitting part 180b (light emitting part) of the optical sensor passes, and the conveying path plates 111, opposite to each other, which are a pair of conveying path plates. 112 is open. The foreign substance drop hole 300 and the foreign substance storage box 310 are provided in the hopper parts 60a to 60f by type. The conveyance path plates 111 and 112 are provided with two optical sensor mounting plates 114 and 115 at an intermediate portion (substantially central portion).

  The member detection sensors 190a and 190b are provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the optical sensors 180a and 180b. The member detection sensors 190a and 190b detect the passing medium after the coin C passes through the optical sensors 180a and 180b, and output a detection signal (see FIG. 7). The member detection sensors 190a and 190b are high-frequency oscillation type proximity sensors, and a high-frequency induction current (eddy current) is caused to flow in a metal such as aluminum (one-yen coin) or copper (ten-yen coin) by electromagnetic induction. This is to detect the attenuation amount of oscillation due to heat loss. In other words, the member detection sensors 190a and 190b change the oscillation intensity according to the property of the metal such as aluminum or copper, so that the oscillation intensity is taken out as an output voltage and sequentially determined with a threshold corresponding to the type of metal. It functions as a metal discrimination sensor that discriminates the type of metal. Note that the thickness of the coin can also be detected by a capacitive sensor. The foreign material storage box 310 stores the foreign material dropped from the foreign material drop hole 300.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the member detection sensor substrate.
The member detection sensor 190 includes a core portion 191 and a bobbin 192 inside, and magnetic lines of force are generated along the axis of the core portion 191. The member detection sensor 190 is attached to the substrate 193 together with the connector 194, and these are collectively referred to as a member detection sensor substrate 195. The substrate 193 has a rectangular shape, and two substrate mounting holes 193a and 193a are opened on both sides in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 7 is an output waveform diagram of the member detection sensor, in which the horizontal axis indicates time and the vertical axis indicates output voltage.
H1 is an output waveform when a specific type of coin C1 passes through the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, and H2 is an output waveform when another type of coin C2 passes. That is, the amount of oscillation attenuation differs depending on the types of coins C1 and C2, and this difference is output as a difference in output voltage. Further, the control unit sets a threshold value α between the detection waveforms H1 and H2 in order to determine whether or not the coin C is a different denomination. Thereby, member detection sensors 190a and 190b can discriminate the kind of coin, and judge the detection / non-detection of a predetermined coin.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the configuration of the different denomination determining unit.
The different denomination discriminating unit 110 is provided with conveyance path side walls on both sides of the conveyance path 200.
The foreign substance drop hole 300 is a hole through which light emitted from the optical sensor 180b passes, and is an elliptical hole having a size such that the foreign substance E1 (staple needle) and foreign substance E2 (clip) fall. Foreign substance dropping hole 300 is opened such that the minor axis direction of the ellipse is the coin transport direction, and the major axis direction is orthogonal to the transport direction. Since the hole diameter (major axis) of the foreign substance dropping hole 300 is shortened to about 70% of the diameter of the coin C, the coin C does not fall. Further, the major axis of the foreign substance dropping hole 300 is longer than the length of the light emitting area of the optical sensor 180b or the light receiving area of the optical sensor 180a. Note that the minor diameter of the foreign substance drop hole 300 is shorter than the diameter of the transparent sealing member of the optical sensors 180a and 180b, and specifically, about 35% of the diameter of the coin C. The diameter of the coin C is φ, and the distance between the optical sensor 180b and the member detection sensor 190b is D.

  The coin C passes through the optical sensors 180a and 180b, and then passes through the member detection sensors 190a and 190b. After the coin C passes through the member detection sensor, the control unit 100 determines whether or not different denominations are mixed according to the detection results of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b.

(Operation)
Next, the operation of the coin processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described. The operation as the coin processing device is executed by the control unit (CPU) of the control unit 100.
In FIG. 1, when coins C are put into the coin receiving unit 10 in a lump, the inserted coins C fall into the coin feeding unit 20. The coin feeding unit 20 feeds the dropped coins C to the coin discriminating unit 30 one by one. The coin discriminating unit 30 discriminates the authenticity or denomination of the fed coin C, and conveys the identified coin C to the sorting conveyance path 40. Then, the coin C determined to be a true coin falls into the tank unit 65 of the denomination hopper units 60a to 60f in the determined denomination. On the other hand, the coin C determined as not being a true coin by the coin determination unit 30 falls into the reject coin storage unit 50.

  Next, the operation when dispensing coins will be described. First, the user selects the number of withdrawals of each denomination and the withdrawal destination (coin dispensing safe 70 or coin collection box 80) via the display operation unit. As a result, the control unit 100 switches the withdrawal destination switching units 210a and 210b for switching withdrawals of the respective money type hopper units 60a to 60f to positions corresponding to the withdrawal destinations.

  When this dispensing operation is executed, the control unit 100 rotates the rotating disk 130 and moves the feeding arm 250 in the X direction (FIG. 3), thereby conveying the protrusion 170 (FIG. 2) of the rotating disk 130. ) Carries the coin C toward the gate 201 and feeds it. Thereafter, the coin C is stored in the coin dispensing safe 70, the coin collection box 80, or the reject box 90. Coins determined to be different denominations are stored in the reject box 90.

(Foreign matter separation)
In FIG. 1, when coins C and foreign matter are put into the coin receiving unit 10 together, the foreign matter falls together with the coin C to the coin feeding unit 20. Thereby, the coin C and the foreign substance pass through the coin discriminating unit 30 and are conveyed through the sorting conveyance path 40, and the foreign substance is mixed together with the coin C into each tank unit 65 of the denomination hopper units 60a to 60f. In other words, when foreign matter is mixed in the apparatus, a first pattern in which foreign matter is mixed with the coin C in the tank portion 65 can be considered. Next, a second pattern in which foreign matter is mixed directly into the tank portion 65 due to an operation mistake of the maintenance staff during failure recovery work is also conceivable.

In FIG. 1, the dispensing operation for dispensing coins C in a state where foreign matter is mixed in the tank portion 65 is performed as follows.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a), when the rotary disk 130 rotates, either one or both of the coin C and the foreign matter are conveyed toward the gate 201. The coin C that has passed through the gate 201 is sandwiched between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, the feeding arm 250 is in the direction of arrow X (the direction parallel to the transport surface and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the coin C, and the distance between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250). Move in the direction of spreading). Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the coins C are repelled in the direction opposite to the X direction (Y direction) by the urging member (spring) provided on the feeding arm 250, and the optical sensors 180a and 180b. Move to the side and pay out. Next, the foreign matter also passes through the feeding portion toward the gate 201.

The control unit determines whether or not different denominations are mixed based on the results of the detection outputs of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the detection outputs of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b. It is stored in the coin collection box 80 or the reject box 90.
On the other hand, after the foreign matter passes through the gate 201, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the foreign matter falls from the foreign matter drop hole 300, slides down the optical sensor mounting plate 115 in the direction of arrow V, and the foreign matter enters the foreign matter storage box 310. Stored. Here, the foreign material falling into the foreign material dropping hole 300 is a staple needle E1, a small clip E2, or the like having a relatively small diameter, and a washer E3 having a relatively large diameter does not fall into the foreign material dropping hole 300. , Pass as it is.

(Explanation of effect)
As described above, according to the coin processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the foreign substance drop hole 300 and the foreign substance storage box 310 that are opened in the lower conveyance path plate are provided. Can be stored in the foreign material storage box 310 by dropping it into the foreign material drop hole 300 and sliding down the upper surface of the optical sensor mounting plate 115. That is, foreign matter can be prevented from being mixed into the coin dispensing safe 70 and the coin collection box 80. In particular, foreign substances E1 and E2 having a small cross-sectional area, such as staples and clips of staples, have a small amount of light shielded by the optical sensor 180b (light emitting unit), and therefore can collect foreign substances without erroneous detection. it can.

  Here, it is conceivable to open a foreign substance drop hole in which a foreign substance falls to the upstream side or the downstream side of the hole through which the irradiation light emitted by the light emitting unit is irradiated. However, when the foreign substance drop hole is opened upstream, the foreign substance slides on the upper surface of the optical sensor mounting plate 115 (in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical sensor 180b), and the optical sensor 180b ( The light emitting unit) is shielded from light, and the amount of light shielding increases. On the other hand, when opening a foreign substance drop hole on the downstream side, the upper surface of the conveyance path plate 112 (in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical sensor 180b) is slid, and the optical sensor 180b (light emitting unit). As a result, the amount of light shielding increases. That is, by setting the hole through which the irradiation light irradiated by the optical sensor 180b is irradiated as the foreign substance dropping hole 300, the foreign substance falls with a surface component parallel to the optical axis of the light emitting unit, so that the light shielding amount is small. Decrease.

(Second Embodiment)
(Description of configuration)
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a different denomination discriminating unit used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment (FIG. 8) in that a feeding sensor 320 is newly provided on the lever portion 260 of the feeding arm 250. The feeding sensor 320 uses a photo interrupter. When the lever portion 260 of the feeding arm 250 moves in the X arrow direction, the lever portion 260 blocks the light of the photo interrupter and detects the position of the feeding arm 250. Can be done.

FIG. 10 is an output waveform diagram of the member detection sensor used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
Here, H1 and H2 are output waveforms when different types of coins C1 and C2 pass through the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, and H3 is when a nonmetallic foreign matter such as plastic or paper passes. Is an output waveform. Further, the control unit 100 (FIG. 1) provides a threshold value α for discriminating the types of the coins C1 and C2 with respect to the output waveforms of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, and detects the coins C and non-metallic foreign matters. A detection threshold value β for discrimination is provided (see FIG. 10). Thereby, the member detection sensors 190a and 190b can determine whether or not the type of coin is a non-metallic foreign matter.

(Description of operation)
The coin processing apparatus 1 (FIG. 1) can be used even when foreign matter E3 (washer) or foreign matter E4 (plastic or paper) having a relatively large diameter is mixed in the tank portion 65 by the different denomination discriminating unit 110b of this embodiment. ) Can withdraw coins while distinguishing these foreign objects.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of each foreign object according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation when the coin C is conveyed, and FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation when the foreign object E3 is conveyed. (C) is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement when the foreign material E4 is conveyed.

  As the rotary disk 130 rotates, the coin C and the foreign objects E3 and E4 are conveyed toward the gate 201. In FIG. 11A, the coin C that has passed through the gate 201 is sandwiched between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250. Thereby, the feeding arm 250 moves in the direction of the arrow X, and then the feeding arm 250 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow X by the biasing force of the biasing member (spring (FIG. 4C)). Thereby, the coin C is flipped off (drawn out) and starts moving toward the optical sensors 180a and 180b.

  At this time, the waveform of the sensor output is described in the lower part of FIG. 11A, and the output of the feed sensor 320 changes to the ON state when the coin C is fed out for a predetermined time T1, and the output of the feed sensor 320 is turned on. The output of the optical sensors 180a and 180b is turned on for a predetermined time T2 after the time t1 has elapsed from the rise time of. At this time, the predetermined time T2 is longer than the time T1 because the coin diameter φ (FIG. 8) is longer than the moving distance of the feeding arm 250. Further, since the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b are separated by a distance D (FIG. 8), a predetermined time t2 has elapsed from the rise time of the outputs of the optical sensors 180a and 180b. The outputs of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b transition, and the ON state is maintained for a predetermined time T3.

  The control unit 100 (FIG. 1) discriminates whether or not different denominations are mixed from the detection results of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b. It is transported to the collection store 80 or the reject store 90 and stored.

  Similarly, the mixed foreign substances E3 and E4 also pass through the feeding portion toward the gate 201. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11B, since the diameter of the foreign substance E3 is small, when the foreign substance E3 passes between the feeding bearing 240 and the feeding arm 250, the feeding arm 250 does not move in the X direction. That is, the feeding sensor 320 of the feeding unit does not detect the waveform shown in the lower part of FIG. That is, the feeding sensor 320 functions as an “outer diameter sensor” because it does not output a detection signal when a foreign substance E3 having a smaller outer diameter than the coin C (including a holed coin such as a 5-yen coin) passes.

  Thereafter, the foreign substance E3 moves to the optical sensors 180a and 180b side. The foreign matter E3 does not fall into the foreign matter drop hole 300, and the optical sensors 180a and 180b detect the passage of the foreign matter E3. At this time, since the foreign substance E3 (washer) is formed in an annular shape, the optical sensors 180a and 180b detect light shielding twice. Next, the foreign substance E3 passes through the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b detect the passage of the foreign substance E3.

  At this time, since an eddy current flows along the washer ring, the member detection sensors 190a and 190b detect the presence state of the foreign matter even at the center of the foreign matter E3. That is, in the case of the foreign matter E3 (washer), the optical sensors 180a and 180b output twice, and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b output once, but the feeding sensor 320 does not detect the foreign matter. At this time, the control unit 100 (FIG. 1) determines that the foreign object E3 (washer).

  The foreign substance E4 (plastic or paper) passes through both the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b without falling into the foreign substance drop hole 300. The foreign substance E4 is detected by both the detection sensor 320 of the feeding portion and the optical sensors 180a and 180b, but is not detected by the member detection sensors 190a and 190b. For this reason, the detection waveform H3 (FIG. 10) of the member detection sensor is obtained, and the control unit 100 (FIG. 1) determines the non-metallic foreign matter from the threshold value β.

As described above, when the control unit 100 (FIG. 1) determines that it is a non-metallic foreign matter, the transport path is switched using the withdrawal destination switching units 210a and 210b (FIG. 2) to reject the foreign matters E3 and E4. It is stored in the storage 90.
In addition, when a foreign object is detected as a transaction operation, after the transaction is completed, a screen display is displayed to indicate that a foreign object has been detected. Then, the transaction may be canceled as an apparatus operation error.

(Explanation of effect)
As described above, according to the second embodiment, with respect to the first embodiment, the lever portion 260 of the feeding arm 250 is provided with the feeding sensor 320 as an outer diameter sensor, and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b By providing the threshold value β for discriminating between the coin C and the foreign matter, the foreign matter E3 (washer) having a small diameter and the foreign matter having a relatively large diameter such as the foreign matter E4 (plastic, paper) are discriminated from the coin and the foreign matter. Is possible.

(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the feeding sensor 320 is provided on the lever portion 260 of the feeding arm 250. However, without providing the feeding sensor 320, only the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b are provided. It is possible to discriminate foreign substances (for example, thumbtack plates and washers) having a small diameter detected by the optical sensors 180a and 180b.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a foreign matter discrimination method according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
This foreign matter determination method measures both the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the time F in which the detection time E and the detection times of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b overlap. . In this foreign matter determination method, the control unit calculates a ratio F / E and compares the ratio F / E with a predetermined determination value G to determine whether or not it is a foreign object. FIG. 12A is a sensor output waveform diagram when the coin passes through the different denomination discriminating unit 110, and FIGS. 12B to 12D show the outer diameter of the foreign object E5 (the thumbtack dish). It is a sensor output waveform figure when time is gradually made shorter than a coin. That is, φa>φb> φc when the outer diameters of the foreign substances E5a, E5b, E5c are φa, φb, φc.

  Here, the non-overlapping time (EF) corresponds to the interval D (FIG. 8) between the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, and the detection times of the optical sensors 180a and 180b. E corresponds to the outer diameter φ of the coin C. That is, the overlapping time F corresponds to a value (φ−D) obtained by subtracting the interval D between the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b from the outer diameter φ of the coin C. .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 12B, in the case of the foreign substance E5a having a diameter smaller than that of the normal coin C, both the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the overlapping time F are shortened. . At this time, since the interval D between the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b does not change, the time from the rise time of the optical sensors 180a and 180b to the rise time of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b. Has not changed. That is, the falling times of the optical sensors 180a and 180b are earlier.

  As shown in FIG. 12C, when the outer diameter of the foreign matter is further shortened and the outer diameter φb of the foreign matter E5b becomes equal to the distance D between the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b, the optical sensor The detection time E of 180a and 180b is further shortened, and the overlapping time F becomes zero. Further, when the outer diameter φc of the foreign matter E5c is shortened, as shown in FIG. 12D, the overlapping time F becomes a negative value.

  That is, as the outer diameter of the foreign object E5 (the thumbtack plate) becomes shorter, both the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the overlapping time F become shorter, and further overlap. The time F becomes a negative value.

  On the other hand, when the outer diameter of the foreign material E5 is shortened, the time (E-F) during which there is no overlap also decreases. That is, in order to determine whether the coin passing through the different denomination discriminating unit 110 is the coin C or the foreign object E5, the ratio F / E between the overlapping time F and the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b. Or the ratio (E−F) / E between the non-overlapping time (E−F) and the detection times E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b may be determined. However, in order to determine the outer diameter of the foreign substance E5, it is preferable to determine F / E in which the negative value increases as the diameter decreases.

  Here, the determination value G of the ratio F / E should be a value D / φ obtained by dividing the distance D between the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the member detection sensors 190a and 190b by the diameter φ of the coin C. . However, if the determination value G is set to this value D / φ, the error cannot be handled, so the determination value G is set to a value smaller than D / φ.

  In the case of the normal coin C, the ratio F / E between the time F in which the detection time of the optical sensor and the detection time of the member detection sensor overlap and the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b is: There is a determination value G or more.

That is, since the ratio (F / E) of the time F in which the detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the detection time of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b overlap is smaller than the determination value G, It becomes possible to judge.
Therefore, even when the detection sensor 320 cannot be mounted on the lever portion 260 of the feeding arm 250, it is possible to detect a foreign object (for example, a thumbtack dish) by this method.

FIG. 13 is another explanatory diagram for explaining the foreign matter discrimination method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13A shows a case where the foreign matter E3 (washer) passes through the different denomination discrimination unit 110. 13 (b) to 13 (d) are sensor output waveform diagrams when the diameter of the foreign matter E3 (washer) is gradually made shorter than that of coins.
Fig.13 (a) is an output waveform figure at the time of a coin, and is the same as Fig.12 (a). FIG. 13B to FIG. 13D are output waveforms when the annular portion of the washer passes the optical sensors 180a and 180b, and output waveforms when the washer passes the member detection sensors 190a and 190b.

  As the diameter of the washer becomes shorter, the overlap portion becomes shorter as in FIG. However, the optical sensors 180a and 180b output twice because the circular part of the washer passes twice. However, the member detection sensors 190a and 190b are different from FIG. 12 in that they are output once as described above. That is, in the case of the foreign matter E3 (washer), the time F in which the first detection time E of the optical sensors 180a and 180b and the detection time of the member detection sensors 190a and 190b overlap is measured.

(Comparative example)
FIG. 14 is a side view showing the configuration of the different denomination discriminating unit used in the coin processing apparatus of the comparative example, and FIG. 15 shows the configuration of the different denomination discriminating unit used in the coin processing apparatus of the comparative example. FIG.
In FIG. 14, the difference from the first embodiment of the present invention is that a hole 113 b having the same diameter as the hole 113 a provided in the conveyance path plate 111 is opened in the conveyance path plate 112 instead of the foreign substance dropping hole 300. This is the point. For this reason, the coin processing apparatus of the comparative example is also different in that the foreign matter storage box 310 (FIG. 1) is not provided.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.
(1) The different denomination determining unit of each of the above embodiments is provided in a cash processing apparatus installed in a backyard (office) such as a supermarket or a shopping mall having a plurality of POS cash registers. It can also be used for automatic transaction equipment and POS cash registers. That is, it can be provided in an automatic transaction device or a coin processing device arranged in a POS cash register.

1 Coin handling equipment (coin depositing and dispensing machine)
2 Depositing section 10 Coin receiving section 20 Coin handling section 30 Coin discriminating section 40 Sorting conveyance path 50 Reject coin storage section 60a, 60b, ..., 60f Money type hopper section 65 Tank section 70 Coin dispensing safe box 80 Coin collection box 90 Reject box 100 Control unit 110 Different denomination discriminators 111, 112 Transport path plates 113a, 113b Holes 114, 115 Optical sensor mounting plate 130 Rotating disk 131 Rotating shaft 140 Drive unit 150 Motor 160 Motor gear 170 Transport protrusions 180, 180a, 180b Optical sensor (Transmission type sensor)
190, 190a, 190b Member detection sensor (metal sensor)
191 Core portion 192 Bobbin 193 Substrate 193a Substrate mounting hole 194 Connector 195 Member detection sensor substrate 200, 201, 202, 203, 220 Conveyance path (conveyance portion)
201 Gate 210, 210a, 210b Withdrawal destination switching unit 230 Through hole 240 Feeding bearing 250 Feeding arm 260 Lever part 300 Foreign substance drop hole 310 Foreign substance storage box 320 Feeding sensor (outer diameter sensor)
C coin (non-translucent medium)
E1 Foreign matter (staple needle)
E2 Foreign matter (clip)
E3 Foreign matter (non-translucent medium, non-translucent foreign matter, washer)
E4 Foreign matter (non-translucent medium, non-translucent foreign matter, paper, plastic)
E5 Foreign matter (non-translucent medium, non-translucent foreign matter, thumbtack dish)

Claims (7)

A coin processing apparatus comprising a conveyance path that is vertically opposed to a conveyance path plate, and an optical sensor that detects a non-translucent medium passing through the conveyance path,
Lower the transport path plate, the are light emitting portion of the optical sensor is opened a hole which passes through the irradiation light to be irradiated,
A coin processing apparatus comprising a foreign matter storage box for storing foreign matter that has fallen through the hole . It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
Further comprising an optical sensor mounting plate facing the lower conveyance path plate and disposing the optical sensor;
The foreign substance storage box, dropped the hole, a coin processing apparatus according to claim <br/> be stored foreign matter slides down the upper surface of the optical sensor mounting plate. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2, Comprising:
A metal sensor that is provided on the transport path plate and generates an output voltage corresponding to the nature of the metal passing through the transport path;
A metal detection by the medium detecting and the metal sensor by the optical sensor determines that the medium passing through the conveyance path is coins, the non-detection output of media detected and the metal sensor by the optical sensor, the medium A coin processing apparatus, further comprising: a control unit that determines that the object is a foreign object. A coin processing apparatus comprising a conveyance path that is vertically opposed to a conveyance path plate, and an optical sensor that detects a non-translucent medium passing through the conveyance path ,
Provided on the transport path plate, an outer diameter sensor outer diameter of the medium passing through the conveying path to detect whether or not substantially equal to the outer diameter of the coins,
The detection output by the outer diameter sensor and the detection output by the optical sensor detect that the medium passing through the transport path is the coin, and the non-detection output by the outer diameter sensor and the second output of the optical sensor, The coin processing apparatus further comprising: a control unit that determines that the medium passing through the conveyance path is an annular foreign substance . It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 4, Comprising:
A metal sensor that is provided on the conveyance path plate and sequentially determines a metal medium passing through the conveyance path;
The coin processing apparatus, wherein the control unit determines that the medium is an annular foreign object even if the metal sensor outputs once when the optical sensor outputs twice. A coin processing apparatus comprising a conveyance path that is vertically opposed to a conveyance path plate, and an optical sensor that detects a non-translucent medium passing through the conveyance path ,
A metal sensor that is provided on the conveyance path plate and sequentially determines a metal medium passing through the conveyance path;
A control unit is provided that determines whether a coin or a foreign object is based on a ratio between an overlap time in which the medium detection by the optical sensor and the metal detection by the metal sensor overlap and a time in which the optical sensor detects the medium. A coin processing device. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 6, Comprising:
In the case where the medium detection by the optical sensor is performed twice, and the metal detection by the metal sensor is performed once, the control unit uses the first medium detection by the optical sensor to detect the overlap time. The coin processing apparatus characterized by calculating.

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