JP7236702B2 - Coin handling device and coin handling method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing device and a coin processing method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a coin processing apparatus that counts and pays out a predetermined number of coins of a target denomination (hereinafter also referred to as a specific denomination). In this type of coin processing device, when coins of a denomination other than a specific denomination (hereinafter also referred to as coins of a different denomination) are mixed in the coins input to the receiving unit, the coins of a different denomination are removed. A reject mechanism is provided to detect and reject. For example, in a coin processing apparatus, a conveying path through which coins are conveyed is provided with a rejection hole having a width corresponding to the diameter of a coin, and coins of different denominations that are being conveyed fall through the rejection hole and are rejected. be done.

However, if a coin of a different denomination that should be rejected is deformed, the coin of a different denomination may pass through the rejection hole where it should fall and may not be properly rejected. In particular, when the difference between the diameter of a coin of a specific denomination and the diameter of a coin of a different denomination is small, there is a high possibility that the coin of a different denomination will pass through the exclusion hole even if the deformation thereof is small.

For this reason, a material detection sensor is installed in the coin processing device to accurately determine the denomination of coins, and by accurately determining the denomination of coins being conveyed, coins of different denominations can be reliably rejected. (See, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5336900

However, in the coin processing device of Patent Document 1, a dedicated material detection sensor is provided only for discriminating the denomination of coins, which increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin processing apparatus and a coin processing method that are capable of detecting coins of denominations other than the target specific denomination while suppressing an increase in cost.

The present invention is a coin processing apparatus having a function of counting coins of a specific denomination, comprising a transport path along which coins are transported, counting the coins transported on the transport path, and detecting the attributes of the coins. and a control unit that classifies the coins into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the coins detected by the counting sensor, and the plurality of groups sort the coins in descending order or decreasing order of diameter. A first group to which a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, and a 10-yen coin, which are not adjacent to each other, belong to, a second group to which a 50-yen coin and a 100-yen coin belong, and a third group to which a 500-yen coin belongs. When determining that the coin transported on the transport path belongs to a group different from the group to which the coin of the specific denomination belongs, the control unit determines that the coin is of a different denomination. do.

The present invention also provides a coin processing method for counting coins of a specific denomination, comprising: conveying coins along a conveying path; counting the coins conveyed along the conveying path; and detecting the attributes of the coins. and classifying the detected coins into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the detected coins, and the plurality of groups are classified into 1-yen coins and 1-yen coins that are not adjacent to each other when the coins are arranged in descending order or descending order of diameter. A first group to which 5-yen coins and 10-yen coins belong, a second group to which 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins belong, and a third group to which 500-yen coins belong. When it is determined that the coin belongs to a group different from the group to which the denomination coin belongs, the coin is determined to be a different denomination coin.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the coin processing apparatus and coin processing method which can detect the coin of denominations other than the target specific denomination can be provided, suppressing the increase in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a perspective view which shows the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the top view which made the cross section one part which shows the principal part of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates roughly the principal part structure of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 of the coin processing device according to the embodiment; It is a figure explaining an example of grouping of the coin concerning an embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the relationship with the magnetic phase value and amplitude value which are received with the coin of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and the receiving part of a counting sensor. It is a flowchart explaining operation|movement of the counting process of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining operation|movement of the rejection process of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and is a figure near a conveyance path, a rejection hole, and a counting sensor.

<Coin processor>
A coin processing device 11 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a coin processing device 11 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the main part of the coin processing device 11 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the main configuration of the coin processing device 11 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device 11 according to the embodiment taken along line AA shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of grouping of coins according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the coin of the coin processing device 11 according to the embodiment and the magnetic phase value and amplitude value received by the receiving unit of the counting sensor.

<Configuration of coin processing device>
The coin processing device 11 described below has a function of counting single denomination coins preset by the user, and has a function of rejecting coins other than the single denomination coins. Here, in the following description, a single denomination coin to be counted in advance is also called a specific denomination coin, and a coin other than the specific denomination coin is also called a different denomination coin. As an example, coins to be counted that can be selected and set as coins of a specific denomination include six denominations of 1-yen coin, 5-yen coin, 10-yen coin, 50-yen coin, 100-yen coin, and 500-yen coin. The coin processing device 11 counts coins of one specific denomination selected from these six denominations to be counted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin processing machine 11 has, on its top, a hopper 12 that opens upward, and a hopper cover 13 that opens and closes the top opening of the hopper 12 . The hopper 12 is a coin pooling section that pools inserted coins. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower part of the hopper 12 is composed of a rotating disk 14. As shown in FIG. The rotary disc 14 is driven by a delivery motor (not shown) to rotate about a vertical axis. When the rotating disk 14 rotates, the coins are moved to the outer peripheral side by centrifugal force and delivered. A sorting ring (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral side of the rotating disk 14 . The sorting ring separates the coins paid out from the rotary disc 14 one by one. The hopper 12 is provided with a residual detection sensor (not shown) that detects coins remaining in the hopper 12 . The coin processing device 11 has a control unit 15 (see FIG. 3) that performs overall control of the coin processing device 11 . The residual detection sensor of the hopper 12 outputs the detection result to the controller 15 . The coin processing device 11 has a storage unit 16 (see FIG. 3) that stores various parameters, threshold values, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the coin processing device 11 has a body portion 18 below the hopper 12 . The body portion 18 protrudes forward (toward the operator) from the hopper 12 . The body portion 18 has a chute 19 protruding downward and a power switch 20 at its front portion. The chute 19 has a chute body 21 and a locking ring 22 . The chute main body 21 is a part for discharging the coins of a specific denomination after counting to the outside. The chute body 21 ejects coins downward. The locking ring 22 locks the storage bag (not shown) to the chute body 21 . As a result, the chute body 21 releases the coin into the storage bag locked by the locking ring 22 .

The main body 18 is provided with a discharge port 25 and an exclusion box 26 on its side. The discharge port 25 is a part for discharging coins of different denominations other than the specific denomination to the outside. The discharge port 25 opens laterally from the body portion 18 . The exclusion box 26 is provided below the discharge port 25 . The exclusion box 26 opens upward at a position corresponding to the opening of the discharge port 25 . The exclusion box 26 receives and stores coins ejected from the ejection port 25 through an upper opening.

An operation display section 30 and a conveying path width adjusting knob 31 are provided on the upper surface of the main body section 18 in front of the hopper 12 . The operation display unit 30 receives a pressing operation by the operator and performs display for the operator. The conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is rotated by the operator. When selecting a coin of a specific denomination to be counted, the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is rotated to a corresponding rotational position.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the main body 18, there are provided the rotating disk 14, the transport drive unit 35, the transport path 36, the exclusion hole 37 (reject mechanism), the counting sensor 38, and the withdrawal hole 39. there is The conveying path 36 is a portion through which the coins C drawn out from the rotary disk 14 are conveyed. The transport path 36 is arranged horizontally and extends linearly. A horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the transport path 36 extends is defined as the width direction of the transport path 36 .

The transport drive unit 35 moves the coins C fed out one by one from the rotary disk 14 along the transport path 36 . The exclusion hole 37 excludes (rejects) the coin C conveyed along the conveying path 36 from the conveying path 36 . The counting sensor 38 detects and counts the coins C driven by the transport drive unit 35 and transported along the transport path 36 when they pass. Further, the counting sensor 38 detects the attribute of the coin C driven by the transport drive unit 35 and transported along the transport path 36 . Note that the coin C is basically conveyed along the conveying path 36 from the rotary disk 14 toward the dispensing hole 39 . This transport direction is defined as the basic transport direction. In the following description, the rotating disk 14 side in the basic conveying direction of the coin C is defined as the upstream side, and the dispensing hole 39 side is defined as the downstream side.

The transport drive unit 35 has a take-in pulley 52 , a drive pulley 53 and a feed belt 54 . The intake pulley 52 is arranged vertically above the outer peripheral portion of the rotary disc 14 . The intake pulley 52 has a horizontal center axis. The driving pulley 53 is arranged downstream of the dispensing hole 39 of the transport path 36 . The driving pulley 53 has the same diameter as the intake pulley 52 . The driving pulley 53 has its central axis 53 a arranged parallel to the central axis 52 a of the intake pulley 52 . The drive pulley 53 matches the intake pulley 52 in axial position and height position.

The feed belt 54 is endless. A feed belt 54 is stretched over the intake pulley 52 and the driving pulley 53 . Intake pulley 52 and drive pulley 53 tension feed belt 54 . The feed belt 54 extends horizontally along the transport path 36 . The drive pulley 53 of the transport drive unit 35 is driven by a transport motor (not shown) to rotate around the central axis. The rotation of the driving pulley 53 about the central axis causes the feed belt 54 and the intake pulley 52 to rotate about the central axis, respectively.

The transport path 36 is provided below the feed belt 54 . The transport path 36 extends along the feed belt 54 . The transport path 36 has an inlet-side passage portion 61 and a pair of walls 63 and 64 . The upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 extends horizontally. The upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 is a flat surface, and the coins C drawn out from the rotary disk 14 are placed on the upper surface 62 . The entrance-side passage portion 61 is arranged vertically below the intake pulley 52 . The pair of walls 63 and 64 are arranged to face each other with the feed belt 54 interposed therebetween. The pair of wall portions 63 and 64 rises vertically upward from the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 . The entrance-side passage portion 61 supports the lower surface of the coin C drawn out from the rotating disc 14 from below with its upper surface 62 .

The feed belt 54 of the transport driving unit 35 comes into contact with the coin C on the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 on the upper side. By rotating in this state, the feed belt 54 conveys the coin C on the upper surface 62 from the entrance side passage portion 61 toward between the pair of wall portions 63 and 64 .

One wall portion 63 has an entrance roller 71 closest to the rotating disk 14 side. The entrance roller 71 is provided rotatably around a vertical axis. The wall portion 63 has a fixed wall 73 which is fixed in position. The fixed wall 73 has a wall surface 72 on the wall portion 64 side. The wall 72 extends along the feed belt 54 away from the rotating disc 14 . The fixed wall 73 extends to the opposite side of the rotary disk 14 from the entrance-side passage portion 61 in the direction in which the upper surface 62 spreads. A wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 rises vertically upward from the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 .

The other wall portion 64 has a guide wall 81 closest to the rotating disk 14 side. The guide wall 81 has an arcuate shape that curves along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating disk 14 . The wall portion 64 has a movable wall 83 that can move. The movable wall 83 has a wall surface 82 on the wall portion 63 side. The wall surface 82 extends along the feed belt 54 from the vicinity of the end of the guide wall 81 on the intake pulley 52 side. The movable wall 83 extends to the opposite side of the rotary disk 14 from the entrance-side passage portion 61 in the direction in which the upper surface 62 spreads. A wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 rises vertically upward from the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 .

The wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 are parallel. The wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 are aligned in height and face each other. The movable wall 83 horizontally moves toward and away from the fixed wall 73 . At this time, the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 is kept parallel to the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 . At that time, the movable wall 83 also maintains the positional relationship with the fixed wall 73 in the extending direction.

One end of the guide wall 81 is connected to the movable wall 83 by a connecting pin 85 . The connecting pin 85 extends vertically. The guide wall 81 is rotatable around the connecting pin 85 . Further, the guide wall 81 is formed with an elongated hole 86 extending in its longitudinal direction at the other end. A vertically fixed pin 87 is arranged in the elongated hole 86 . The guide wall 81 rotates about the connecting pin 85 with respect to the movable wall 83 while moving the elongated hole 86 with respect to the pin 87 when the movable wall 83 moves. Thereby, the guide wall 81 follows the horizontal movement of the movable wall 83 .

An inlet 91 is provided on the rotating disk 14 side of the pair of walls 63 and 64 . The inlet 91 is formed by the inlet roller 71 and the end of the guide wall 81 on the connecting pin 85 side. The width of the inlet 91 is set equal to the interval between the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 . The curved guide wall 81 guides the coin C drawn out from the rotary disc 14 toward between the pair of walls 63 and 64 . The end of the guide wall 81 on the inlet 91 side is connected to the movable wall 83 via a connecting pin 85 . Therefore, the end of the guide wall 81 on the inlet 91 side moves in conjunction with the movable wall 83 .

The transport path 36 has a positionally fixed support portion 101 below the fixed wall 73 in the vertical direction. The support portion 101 protrudes from the wall surface 72 toward the movable wall 83 . The upper surface 102 of the support portion 101 is arranged on the same plane as the upper surface 62 of the inlet-side passage portion 61 . The upper surface 102 extends from the upper surface 62 to the side opposite to the rotating disk 14 in the direction in which the upper surface 62 spreads.

The transport path 36 has a support portion 103 below the movable wall 83 in the vertical direction. The support portion 103 protrudes from the wall surface 82 toward the fixed wall 73 . The upper surface 104 of the support portion 103 is arranged on the same plane as the upper surface 62 of the inlet-side passage portion 61 . The upper surface 104 extends from the upper surface 62 to the side opposite to the rotating disk 14 in the direction in which the upper surface 62 spreads. The support portion 103 is fixed to the movable wall 83 . Therefore, the support portion 103 moves integrally with the movable wall 83 .

The transport path 36 has an outlet side passage portion 112 downstream of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . The outlet-side passage portion 112 has its upper surface 111 arranged on the same plane as the upper surfaces 62 , 102 , 104 . The exit-side passage portion 112 supports the lower surface of the coin C with its upper surface 111 from below. The fixed wall 73 including the wall surface 72 and the movable wall 83 including the wall surface 82 extend to the outlet side passage portion 112 . The pair of wall portions 63 and 64 guide the outer peripheral surface of the coin C between the entrance side passage portion 61 and the exit side passage portion 112 .

A portion surrounded by the inlet-side passage portion 61, the pair of support portions 101 and 103, and the outlet-side passage portion 112 serves as the exclusion hole 37. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the pair of support portions 101 and 103 form an exclusion hole 37 therebetween. In a plan view, the exclusion hole 37 has a rectangular shape extending along the direction in which the coins C are conveyed. The exclusion hole 37 is provided so as to penetrate the conveying path 36 in the thickness direction. Exclusion hole 37 is connected to outlet 25 shown in FIG. 1 via a reject chute (not shown). Therefore, the coin C that has fallen into the exclusion hole 37 is ejected from the ejection port 25 . A coin C discharged from the discharge port 25 is accommodated in the exclusion box 26. - 特許庁

A pair of support portions 101 and 103 constitute an intermediate passage portion 121 . Upper surfaces 102 and 104 of the intermediate passage portion 121 support the outer peripheral side of the lower surface of the coin C between the entrance side passage portion 61 and the exit side passage portion 112 . The upper surface 62 of the inlet-side passage portion 61 , the upper surfaces 102 and 104 of the intermediate passage portion 121 , and the upper surface 111 of the outlet-side passage portion 112 constitute a conveying surface 125 that is the upper surface of the conveying path 36 . The conveying surface 125 is a flat surface extending horizontally.

The counting sensor 38 is provided at the position of the exit-side passage portion 112 in the direction in which the conveying surface 125 spreads. The counting sensor 38 detects and counts the coins C moving on the upper surface 111 of the outlet side passage portion 112 . Count sensor 38 is a magnetic sensor. The counting sensor 38 outputs magnetic data, which is the detection result, to the control section 15 (see FIG. 3).

A withdrawal hole 39 is provided in the transport path 36 downstream of the exit-side passage portion 112 . The withdrawal hole 39 drops the coins C after being detected and counted by the counting sensor 38 of the exit side passage portion 112 from the conveying path 36 . Coins C dropped from the dispensing hole 39 are guided into the chute body 21 of the chute 19 shown in FIG. 1 via an internal chute (not shown). Therefore, the coin C dropped from the dispensing hole 39 is ejected from the chute main body 21 to the outside of the coin processing device 11 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the feed belt 54 of the transport drive unit 35 contacts the coins C fed out one by one from the rotating disc 14 onto the entrance side passage portion 61 at the upper side. Then, the feed belt 54 conveys the coin C that contacts in this way from the entrance 91 side of the pair of wall portions 63 and 64 toward the exclusion hole 37 . Then, if the coin C conveyed by the feed belt 54 does not drop through the exclusion hole 37 , it moves further toward the exit side passage portion 112 and finally drops into the dispensing hole 39 .

Coins C are fed one by one from the rotating disk 14 onto the conveying path 36 onto the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 . At this time, the coin C is paid out toward between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 of the pair of wall portions 63 and 64 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 . The feed belt 54 of the transport driving unit 35 contacts the coin C on the upper surface 62 of the entrance-side passage portion 61 from above. Then, the feed belt 54 moves the coin C in contact along the transport path 36 . At that time, the coin C is guided by the pair of walls 63 and 64 on its outer peripheral surface. At this time, the lower surface of the coin C moves from the upper surface 62 of the inlet-side passage portion 61 to the upper surfaces 102 and 104 of the intermediate passage portion 121 and further to the upper surface 111 of the outlet-side passage portion 112 . At this time, the intermediate passage portion 121 supports the outer peripheral side of the lower surface of the coin C with the upper surfaces 102 and 104 .

In this manner, the transport driving unit 35 and the transport path 36 transport the coin C from the entrance-side passage portion 61 toward the dispensing hole 39 via the intermediate passage portion 121 and the exit-side passage portion 112. . In other words, the coin C is supported by the entrance-side passage portion 61 , the intermediate passage portion 121 and the exit-side passage portion 112 and is moved by the drive of the transport driving portion 35 . At that time, the pair of walls 63 and 64 guide the outer peripheral surface of the coin C. As shown in FIG. Also, at that time, the intermediate passage portion 121 supports the outer peripheral side of the lower surface of the coin C. As shown in FIG. The transport drive unit 35 and the transport path 36 constitute a coin transport unit 128 that sandwiches and transports the coin C from above and below. The transport drive unit 35 constitutes a driving part and an upper part of the coin transport unit 128 . The transport path 36 constitutes the lower portion of the coin transport section 128 .

The movable wall 83 and the support portion 103 are movable in the width direction of the transport path 36 . The moving positions of the movable wall 83 and the support portion 103 are adjusted by a width changing mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the width of the transport path 36 can be changed by this width changing mechanism. The transport path width adjusting knob 31 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a rotational position sensor (not shown) for detecting its rotational position. The width changing mechanism changes the distance between the pair of wall portions 63 and 64 and the distance between the pair of support portions 101 and 103 according to the detection result of the rotational position sensor. In other words, the width changing mechanism changes the width of the transport path 36 . In other words, the width changing mechanism changes the width of the exclusion hole 37 along with the change of the width of the transport path 36 . The width changing mechanism can arbitrarily set the width of the transport path 36 and the width of the exclusion hole 37 .

The fixed wall 73 and the support portion 101 constitute a fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 . The movable wall 83 and the support portion 103 constitute a movable transport path guide wall 132 . Therefore, the width changing mechanism adjusts the moving position of the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 . These fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and movable-side transport path guide wall 132 exclude coins C smaller in diameter than the designated specific denomination from the exclusion hole 37 .

2, the entrance roller 71 and the guide wall 81 forming the entrance 91 come into contact with each other, and the coin C having a diameter larger than the designated specific denomination is in contact with the entrance roller 71 and the guide wall 81. 36 from the entrance side passage portion 61 to the side opposite to the rotating disc 14 is restricted. In the entrance-side passage portion 61, a coin C which is restricted in movement by the entrance 91 of the pair of wall portions 63 and 64 and stays near the entrance roller 71 of the wall portion 63 is detected. (See FIG. 3) is provided with a coin detection sensor 126 that outputs an output. The coin detection sensor 126 also detects coins C passing through the entrance 91 .

The controller 15 controls a width changing mechanism (not shown) according to the rotational position of the transport path width adjusting knob 31 to change the width of the transport path 36 and the width of the exclusion hole 37 . At that time, the exclusion hole 37 does not drop the coin of the specific denomination conveyed on the conveying path 36 from the conveying path 36, but allows the coin of a different denomination smaller than the specific denomination to drop from the conveying path 36. is set to a width that allows In other words, the exclusion hole 37 drops the different denomination coin conveyed on the conveying path 36 and rejects it from the conveying path 36 to the outside of the conveying path 36 .

For example, when the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 500 yen coin, the controller 15 causes the width changing mechanism to cause the fixed side conveying path guide wall 131 and the movable side conveying path guide wall 132 to move. , is defined as a predetermined 500-yen coin counting distance. That is, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the opposed front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set to the appropriate circular 500-yen coin. The distance is such that a proper circular 10-yen coin smaller in diameter than a proper 500-yen coin can be dropped into the exclusion hole 37 without dropping into the exclusion hole 37.例文帳に追加At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 500-yen coin. Then, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of a proper circular 500-yen coin.

As a result, the appropriate circular 500-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a 10-yen coin, a 100-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, a 50-yen coin, a 1-yen coin, etc., having a smaller diameter and an appropriate circular shape, is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than a 500-yen coin comes into contact with the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this manner. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

Further, for example, the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 10-yen coin. Then, the controller 15 uses the width changing mechanism to set the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 to a predetermined 10-yen coin count distance. In other words, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the facing front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set so that an appropriate circular 10-yen coin is inserted into the exclusion hole 37 . 100-yen coin having a diameter smaller than that of a proper 10-yen coin is dropped into the exclusion hole 37. At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 10-yen coin. Then, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 10-yen coin.

As a result, a properly circular 10-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a 100-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, a 50-yen coin, a 1-yen coin, or the like having a smaller diameter and an appropriate circular shape is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than a 10-yen coin, such as a 500-yen coin, comes into contact with the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this way. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

Also, for example, the rotational position of the transport path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 100-yen coin. Then, the controller 15 uses the width changing mechanism to set the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 to a predetermined 100-yen coin count distance. That is, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the facing front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set to the appropriate circular 100-yen coin through the exclusion hole 37 . A proper circular 5-yen coin smaller in diameter than a proper 100-yen coin can be dropped into the exclusion hole 37 without dropping it. At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 100-yen coin. As a result, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 100-yen coin.

As a result, a properly circular 100-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a 5-yen coin, a 50-yen coin, a 1-yen coin, or the like having a smaller diameter and an appropriate circular shape is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than a 100-yen coin, such as a 10-yen coin, comes into contact with the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this way. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

Also, for example, the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 5-yen coin. Then, the control unit 15 uses the width changing mechanism to set the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 to a predetermined five-yen coin count distance. That is, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the facing front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set to the appropriate circular five-yen coin through the exclusion hole 37 . A proper circular 50-yen coin having a diameter smaller than that of a proper 5-yen coin is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 without being dropped into the hole 37.例文帳に追加At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular five-yen coin. Then, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular five-yen coin.

As a result, a properly circular five-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a 50-yen coin, a 1-yen coin, or the like having a smaller diameter and a proper circular shape is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than a 5-yen coin, such as a 100-yen coin, comes into contact with the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this way. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

Further, for example, the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 50-yen coin. Then, the controller 15 uses the width changing mechanism to set the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 to a predetermined 50-yen coin count distance. That is, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the facing front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set to the appropriate circular 50-yen coin. A proper circular 1-yen coin having a smaller diameter than a proper 50-yen coin is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 without dropping into the 50-yen coin. At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular 50-yen coin. Then, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of a proper circular 50-yen coin.

As a result, a properly circular 50-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a 1-yen coin or the like having a smaller diameter and a proper circular shape is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than that of a 50-yen coin, such as a 5-yen coin, contacts the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this manner. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

Further, for example, the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a one-yen coin. Then, the control unit 15 uses the change mechanism to set the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 to a predetermined one-yen coin count distance. In other words, the distance between the wall surface 72 of the fixed wall 73 and the wall surface 82 of the movable wall 83 and the distance between the opposed front end surfaces of the pair of support portions 101 and 103 are set to the appropriate circular one-yen coin exclusion hole 37 . A coin having a diameter smaller than a proper 1-yen coin is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 without dropping into the hole 37.例文帳に追加At this time, the distance between the wall surfaces 72 and 82 is slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular one-yen coin. Then, the width of the entrance 91 also becomes slightly larger than the diameter of an appropriate circular one-yen coin.

As a result, a properly circular one-yen coin is supported by the pair of support portions 101 and 103 . On the other hand, a coin or the like having a diameter smaller than that is dropped into the exclusion hole 37 . In this state, a coin having a diameter larger than that of a 1-yen coin, such as a 50-yen coin, contacts the entrance roller 71 of the entrance 91 and the guide wall 81 and stops. The coin detection sensor 126 detects the coin stopped at the entrance 91 in this way. Then, the control unit 15 gives an error notification on the operation display unit 30 . This causes the operator to remove this coin.

In this manner, the coin processing apparatus 11 can reject coins of a different denomination mixed with coins of a specific denomination from the exclusion hole 37 . As a configuration for dropping coins of different denominations into the exclusion hole 37, it is possible to employ a configuration other than the configuration in which the width of the exclusion hole 37 can be set to an arbitrary width by the width changing mechanism. For example, a hole whose width is gradually narrowed from the upstream side toward the downstream side along the transport path 36 may be provided. In this case, the internal chute conveys the coin dropped from the coin hole of the specific denomination to the chute main body 21 . In addition, the coin dropped from the hole for coins other than the specific denomination is conveyed to the discharge port 25 by the internal chute. Thus, a mechanism for switching the internal chute is provided.

A counting sensor 38 is provided on the transport path 36 downstream of the exclusion holes 37 in the basic transport direction. As a result, the coin processing device 11 can basically count only the coins of the specific denomination by the counting sensor 38 .

The counting sensor 38 counts the coins C. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the counting sensor 38 is a transmissive magnetic sensor. The counting sensor 38 has a transmitting section 141 having a transmitting coil (not shown) wound to a predetermined length and a receiving section 142 having a receiving coil (not shown) wound to a predetermined length. is configured as

As shown in FIG. 3, the transmitting coil and the transmitting section 141 having the transmitting coil are provided above the conveying surface 125 of the conveying path 36 . The transmission coil and transmission section 141 are provided along the width direction of the transport path 36 . The transmitting coil and transmitting section 141 are arranged parallel to the transport surface 125 of the transport path 36 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the receiving coil and the receiving section 142 having the same are provided below the transport surface 125 of the transport path 36 . The receiving coil and receiving section 142 are provided along the width direction of the transport path 36 . The receiving coil and receiving section 142 are arranged parallel to the transport surface 125 of the transport path 36 . The receiving coil and receiving section 142 are arranged in parallel with the transmitting coil and transmitting section 141 . The receiving coil and receiving section 142 and the transmitting coil and transmitting section 141 are aligned in the direction in which the conveying path 36 extends. The receiving coil and receiving section 142 and the transmitting coil and transmitting section 141 are aligned in the width direction of the transport path 36 .

As described above, the counting sensor 38 having the transmitting portion 141 and the receiving portion 142 is provided along the width direction of the conveying path 36 . The counting sensor 38 crosses the transport surface 125 of the transport path 36 in the width direction of the transport path 36 .

A transmitter 141 of the counting sensor 38 is connected to an AC power supply circuit 145 that generates an AC current. The transmission unit 141 generates an alternating magnetic field H having a period and amplitude corresponding to the period and amplitude of the alternating current supplied from the alternating current power supply circuit 145 . The AC magnetic field H generated by the transmitter 141 is received by the receiver 142 .

Here, if a coin C or the like exists between the transmitter 141 and the receiver 142, the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H generated by the transmitter 141 and received by the receiver 142 are: Vary with respect to nothing. The AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 has a phase value and a Amplitude values fluctuate.

The counting sensor 38 can detect whether or not the coin C has passed through the counting sensor 38 by capturing the fluctuations in the phase value and amplitude value of the alternating magnetic field H received by the receiving portion 142 with respect to the alternating magnetic field H generated by the transmitting portion 141 . It's like In other words, the counting sensor 38 can detect the presence or absence of the coin C by capturing fluctuations in the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H generated by the transmitter 141 and the AC magnetic field H received by the receiver 142. there is

In the embodiment, the transmitting coil of the transmitting section 141 and the receiving coil of the receiving section 142 are provided over at least a predetermined width of the transport path 36, preferably over the entire length. In other words, the transmitting coil, the transmitting section 141, the receiving coil and the receiving section 142 cross the transport surface 125 of the transport path 36 in the width direction of the transport path 36 . As a result, the counting sensor 38 detects the phase of the AC magnetic field H caused by the diameter of the coin C regardless of the position of the coin C conveyed on the conveying surface 125 of the conveying path 36 in the width direction of the conveying path 36 . values and amplitude values can be detected appropriately.

Here, in the embodiment, a transmissive magnetic sensor is used as the counting sensor 38 . As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the phase value and the amplitude of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving section 142 due to the difference in denomination of the coin C existing between the transmitting section 141 and the receiving section 142 of the counting sensor 38 The value (the phase value and amplitude value of this alternating magnetic field H are also referred to as the magnetic property of the coin) fluctuates. That is, the counting sensor 38 detects the magnetic property of the coin C as the coin C attribute. The coins C can be roughly grouped based on the phase value and amplitude value (magnetic property) of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving section 142 .

<An example of coin grouping>
Next, an example of grouping of coins according to the embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the coins currently in circulation in Japan are mainly 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, 100-yen coins, old 500-yen coins, and new 500-yen coins. There is In other words, at present, these seven types of coins are circulating in the market as coins normally used in Japan. The coin processing device 11 is compatible with counting these seven kinds of coins.

Of the seven kinds of coins mentioned above, the 1-yen coin is made of aluminum, the 5-yen coin is made of brass, the 10-yen coin is made of bronze, the 50-yen coin and 100-yen coin are made of cupronickel, and the old 500-yen coin is made of cupronickel. The new 500 yen coin is formed using a nickel brass material.

When these 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, 100-yen coins, new 500-yen coins, and old 500-yen coins are arranged in order of diameter, 1-yen coins (20 mm in diameter), 50 yen coin (diameter 21 mm), 5 yen coin (diameter 22 mm), 100 yen coin (diameter 22.6 mm), 10 yen coin (diameter 23.5 mm), new and old 500 yen coin (diameter 26.5 mm) becomes larger. The old 500-yen coin and the new 500-yen coin have the same diameter.

As described above, when the 1-yen coin, the 5-yen coin, the 10-yen coin, the 50-yen coin, the 100-yen coin, the new 500-yen coin, and the old 500-yen coin are arranged in order of decreasing diameter or decreasing diameter, the coins are adjacent to each other. difference in diameter is 3 mm or less. Specifically, the difference in diameter between a 1-yen coin and a 50-yen coin is 1 mm, the difference in diameter between a 50-yen coin and a 5-yen coin is 1 mm, the difference in diameter between a 5-yen coin and a 100-yen coin is 0.6 mm, The difference in diameter between the 100-yen coin and the 10-yen coin is 0.9 mm, and the difference in diameter between the 10-yen coin and the new and old 500-yen coin is 3 mm.

Except for old and new 500-yen coins, 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, and 100-yen coins have a diameter difference of 1 mm or less between adjacent coins. Therefore, in the case of 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, and 100-yen coins, coins of a different denomination (e.g., 100-yen coins) adjacent to the coin of a specific denomination to be counted (e.g., 100-yen coin) 5 yen coin) is deformed, the deformed different denomination coin (for example, 5 yen coin) does not fall into the exclusion hole 37 for rejecting the different denomination coin, but passes through the exclusion hole 37. There is a risk that it will be lost.

Here, a large amount of 1-yen coins, a large amount of 5-yen coins, a large amount of 10-yen coins, a large amount of 50-yen coins, a large amount of 100-yen coins, and a large amount of new 500-yen coins are processed by the above-described conveying path 36 and the conveying driving unit 35. A test was conducted in which coins and a large amount of old 500 yen coins were conveyed and passed between the transmitter 141 and the receiver 142 of the counting sensor 38 . Then, the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 were plotted with the amplitude value on the horizontal axis and the phase value on the vertical axis, resulting in a distribution shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the embodiment, from this distribution, a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, a 10-yen coin, a 50-yen coin, a 100-yen coin, a new 500-yen coin, and an old 500-yen coin are classified into 1-yen coins. , 5-yen coins and 10-yen coins, the 1st copper-based group, 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins, the second group, and the nickel-brass-based third group, including old and new 500-yen coins. and classified into three groups. Although the 1-yen coin is completely different from the 5-yen coin and the 10-yen coin in material, diameter, and thickness, the phase value and amplitude value (magnetic properties) of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 are different from those of the 5-yen coin and the 10-yen coin. It is classified into the first group because it has a value relatively close to that of a 10-yen coin.

The 1-yen coin, the 5-yen coin, and the 10-yen coin classified into the first group described above are different from the 50-yen coin and the 100-yen coin, which are classified into the second group. It is large compared to the phase value of the yen coin. Also, in the first group, the phase value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 is larger than the phase values of the new 500-yen coin and the old 500-yen coin classified into the third group. Also, the first group has smaller amplitude values than the second group.

In the second group, the phase value of the alternating magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 is located between the phase value of the other first group and the phase value of the third group, and the amplitude value is and the amplitude values of the third group.

In the third group, the phase value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving section 142 is smaller than those in the other first and second groups. The amplitude values of the third group are smaller than those of the second group.

In the embodiment, a predetermined phase threshold between the distribution range of the first group and the distribution range of the third group is set based on the distribution shown in FIG. Also, a predetermined amplitude threshold is set between the distribution range of the first group, the distribution range of the third group, and the distribution range of the second group.

The control unit 15 determines whether the coin C belongs to the first group, the second group, or the third group based on the magnetic property of the coin C detected by the counting sensor 38 and the phase threshold value and the amplitude threshold value described above. classified according to whether

That is, the control unit 15 determines that the phase value out of the phase value and the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 when the coin C passes between the transmitting unit 141 and the receiving unit 142 is the above-described phase threshold If it is larger and the amplitude value is equal to or less than the amplitude threshold value described above, the coin C is determined to belong to the first group. Further, the control unit 15 determines that the phase value out of the phase value and the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 when the coin C passes between the transmitting unit 141 and the receiving unit 142 is the above-described phase threshold value. or less and the amplitude value is equal to or less than the amplitude threshold value, the coin is determined to belong to the third group. Further, if the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H received by the receiving unit 142 when the coin C passes between the transmitting unit 141 and the receiving unit 142 is larger than the above-described amplitude threshold value, the control unit 15 belongs to the second group.

When the control unit 15 determines that the coin C conveyed on the exit-side passage portion 112 and detected by the counting sensor 38 belongs to a group of coins of a preset specific denomination, the coin C is classified into this specific denomination. It is determined that the coin is of the denomination. On the other hand, when the control unit 15 determines that the coin C conveyed on the exit side passage portion 112 and detected by the counting sensor 38 belongs to a group different from the group to which the preset specific denomination coins belong. , the coin C is determined to be a different denomination coin.

Returning to FIG. 5, the 1-yen coin, 5-yen coin, and 10-yen coin belonging to the first group are 1-yen coin, 5-yen coin, 10-yen coin, 50-yen coin, 100-yen coin, new 500-yen coin, and old 500-yen coin. These are coins that are not adjacent to each other when 500-yen coins are arranged in order of decreasing diameter or increasing diameter. The difference between the diameter of the 1-yen coin and the diameter of the 5-yen coin is 2 mm, and the difference between the diameter of the 5-yen coin and the diameter of the 10-yen coin is 1.5 mm.

The 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins belonging to the second group are also made up of 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, 100-yen coins, new 500-yen coins, and old 500-yen coins in descending order of diameter. or coins that are not adjacent to each other when arranged in ascending order. The difference between the diameter of a 50-yen coin and the diameter of a 100-yen coin is 1.6 mm.

As a result, for example, when the threshold is set to 1.5 mm, the difference in diameter between the 1-yen coin, the 5-yen coin, and the 10-yen coin belonging to the first group is all equal to or greater than the threshold (1.5 mm). Similarly, the difference in diameter between the 50-yen coin and the 100-yen coin belonging to the second group is equal to or greater than the threshold value (1.5 mm).

Therefore, both the first group and the second group, which constitute the plurality of groups, are set so that the difference in diameter between coins of a plurality of denominations belonging to the same group is equal to or greater than the threshold value (1.5 mm). . In addition, the first group and the second group, which constitute the plurality of groups, include a plurality of 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, 100-yen coins, new 500-yen coins and old 500-yen coins of different denominations. When the 500-yen coins are arranged in descending order of diameter or in descending order of diameter, coins that are not adjacent to each other are set to be grouped together. Furthermore, when 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, 10-yen coins, 50-yen coins, 100-yen coins, new 500-yen coins, and old 500-yen coins are arranged in order of increasing diameter or decreasing diameter, the plurality of groups are: A first group to which a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, and a 10-yen coin that are not adjacent to each other belong, a second group to which a 50-yen coin and a 100-yen coin that are not adjacent to each other belong, a third group to which a 500-yen coin belongs, contains.

Information that associates the coin denominations, phase values, and amplitude values shown in FIG. 6, and information that relates to the denomination grouping, including the phase threshold value and the amplitude threshold value, are stored in the storage unit 16 (see FIG. 3). ing.

<Operation of Coin Handling Device: Counting Processing Including Reject Processing>
Next, the operation of the reject processing when a partially deformed coin of a different denomination is mixed in with the coins of the specific denomination to be counted during the counting processing of the coin processing device 11 will be described. In the embodiment, specifically, when counting 100-yen coins (coins of a specific denomination) belonging to the second group, partially deformed 5-yen coins belonging to the first group different from the second group are counted. A case in which (different denomination coin) is mixed, the 5-yen coin is detected by the counting sensor 38 and rejected out of the conveying path 36 will be described as an example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of counting processing.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the reject process, and is a diagram of the vicinity of the transport path 36, the exclusion hole 37 and the counting sensor 38. As shown in FIG.

In the coin processing device 11, when counting processing is performed, the rotational position of the conveying path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a specific denomination of coins to be counted, and the operation display unit 30 displays a message as shown in FIG. , a start operation is input in step S101 (step S101: YES). Specifically, the rotational position of the transport path width adjusting knob 31 is set to a position for selecting a 100-yen coin, and a start operation is input to the operation display section 30 (step S101: YES).

When a start operation is input via the operation display unit 30 (step S101: YES), the coins thrown into the hopper 12 are started to be counted. In step S102, the control unit 15 acquires the magnetic properties (amplitude value, phase value) output from the counting sensor 38 when the first coin fed from the hopper 12 passes through the counting sensor 38. Then, the control unit 15 compares the magnetic property of the first coin acquired from the counting sensor 38 with the magnetic properties (amplitude value, phase value) of the three groups stored in the storage unit 16, It is determined to which of three preset groups (see FIG. 6) the magnetic property of the coin belongs. Then, the control unit 15 determines the group to which the first coin belongs. Then, the control unit 15 stores the coin thrown into the hopper 12 as a coin of a specific denomination.

Specifically, when the coins thrown into the hopper 12 are 100-yen coins, the control unit 15 determines the magnetic properties of the 100-yen coins acquired from the counting sensor 38 and the three groups stored in the storage unit 16. , and determines that the coin thrown into the hopper 12 belongs to the second group to which the 100-yen coin belongs.

At the same time, in step S103, the control unit 15 adjusts the position of the movable transport path guide wall 132 by using the width changing mechanism (not shown) so that the fixed transport path guide wall 131 and the movable transport path guide wall 132 are separated from each other. is set as a predetermined counting distance corresponding to this specific denomination coin (100-yen coin). Specifically, the distance between the fixed-side transport path guide wall 131 and the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 is set as the 100-yen coin count distance.

In step S104, the control unit 15 causes the transmitting unit 141 of the magnetic sensor 38 to generate an alternating magnetic field H, detects the amplitude and phase from the alternating magnetic field H by the receiving unit 142, and adjusts the output of the transmitting unit 141 so that it becomes a reference value. Sensor adjustment is performed to adjust the strength and output timing.

After that, in step S105, the rotating disk 14 and the transport drive unit 35 are driven in the direction of transporting the coin C in the basic transport direction.

Then, in step S106, the control unit 15 receives the AC magnetic field H of the coin C driven by the transport driving unit 35 and transported along the transport path 36 in the basic transport direction by the receiving unit 142 of the counting sensor 38. Obtain its phase and amplitude values. Then, in step S107, the control unit 15 identifies the coin C detected by the counting sensor 38 based on the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H, which are the attributes of the coin C acquired by the receiving unit 142 in step S106. It is determined whether or not the coin belongs to the same group as the coin of the denomination. That is, from the relationship between the phase value of the alternating magnetic field H acquired by the receiving unit 142 and the phase threshold value, and the relationship between the amplitude value of the alternating magnetic field H and the amplitude threshold value acquired by the receiving unit 142, the It is determined whether the coin belongs to the group determined in step S102.

Specifically, when a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, a 10-yen coin, a 50-yen coin, a 100-yen coin, a new 500-yen coin, and an old 500-yen coin are arranged in order of decreasing diameter or increasing diameter, The 100-yen coin and the 5-yen coin of a different denomination are adjacent to each other (coins having similar diameters). If part of the 5-yen coin C is slightly deformed, the 5-yen coin C does not drop into the rejection hole 37, which is originally intended to reject the 5-yen coin, and the 5-yen coin C is transported. It is transported along the path 36 (see (A) of FIG. 8). As a result, the 5-yen coin C reaches the counting sensor 38, and the control unit 15 determines that the 5-yen coin C exists between the transmitting unit 141 and the receiving unit 142 by the receiving unit 142 of the counting sensor 38. In this case, the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H are obtained (see FIG. 8B).

In this case, the phase value and the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H acquired by the receiving unit 142 for this 5-yen coin C are larger than the phase threshold value and the amplitude value is equal to or less than the amplitude threshold value. The unit 15 determines that the coin (5-yen coin) detected by the counting sensor 38 belongs to the first group and does not belong to the second group to which the coin of the specific denomination (100-yen coin) determined in step S102 belongs. (step S107: NO). On the other hand, when a 100-yen coin of the specific denomination passes through the counting sensor 38, the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H obtained by the receiving unit 142 for the 100-yen coin of the specific denomination becomes larger than the amplitude threshold value. The control unit 15 determines that the coin detected by the counting sensor 38 belongs to the second group determined in step S102 (step S107: YES).

If the coin C detected by the counting sensor 38 belongs to the group determined in step S102 (step S107: YES), the coin C is a coin of a specific denomination, so the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the control unit 15 counts the coins C of this specific denomination. The coins C thus counted are conveyed downstream in the basic conveying direction as they are by the conveying drive unit 35 , fall from the coin dispensing hole 39 and are discharged from the chute main body 21 . The control unit 15 ends the processing for this coin C, and proceeds to step S109. In step S109, it is determined whether or not there is a coin C next to this coin C from the detection result of the coin detection sensor 126, etc. If there is a next coin C (step S109: NO), the process returns to step S106. , the phase value and amplitude value of the AC magnetic field H of the next coin C are obtained. If there is no next coin C (step S109: YES), the counting process ends.

Specifically, when the control unit 15 determines that the amplitude value of the alternating magnetic field H acquired by the receiving unit 142 for the coin C is greater than the amplitude threshold value and that the coin C belongs to the second group determined in step S102 (step S107: YES), this coin C is a 100-yen coin of the specific denomination, so in step S108, the control unit 15 counts the 100-yen coins of the specific denomination, and ends the processing for this coin C. .

If the coin C detected by the counting sensor 38 does not belong to the group determined in step S102 (step S107: NO), the coin C is not of a specific denomination, so the process proceeds to step S110.

In step S110, the control unit 15 drives the conveying driving unit 35 to move the coin C, which is determined not to be the coin of the specific denomination (100-yen coin) in the above-described step S107, to a position where the counting sensor 38 is removed in the conveying direction. After moving, it is stopped (see (C) in FIG. 8).

In step S111, the control unit 15 rotates the rotating disk 14 and the transport drive unit 35 in reverse to transport the coin C in the direction opposite to the basic transport direction. Reject processing is performed by setting the distance from the transport path guide wall 132 to the maximum value that the 500-yen coin can drop (see (D) in FIG. 8). Then, the coin C, which is a different denomination coin, falls from the exclusion hole 37 and is ejected from the ejection port 25 toward the exclusion box 26 . When the control unit 15 rotates the transport driving unit 35 in the reverse direction and a predetermined time required for dropping into the exclusion hole 37 elapses, the control unit 15 ends the processing for the coin C, and proceeds to step S113. In step S113, it is determined whether or not there is a coin C next to this coin C from the detection result of the coin detection sensor 126, etc. If there is a next coin C (step S113: NO), the process returns to step S105. , the rotating disk 14 and the transport drive unit 35 are driven in the direction of transporting the coin in the basic transport direction, and the phase value and the amplitude value of the AC magnetic field of the next coin C are obtained in step S106. If there is no next coin C (step S113: YES), the counting process ends.

Specifically, when the control unit 15 acquires the alternating magnetic field H of a 5-yen coin that is a deformed coin of a different denomination by the receiving unit 142, the alternating magnetic field H has a phase value larger than the phase threshold and an amplitude value of Since it is equal to or less than the amplitude threshold, it is determined that this coin C belongs to the first group instead of the second group determined in step S102 (step S107: NO). Then, in step S111, the control unit 15 rotates the rotary disc 14 and the transport drive unit 35 in reverse to transport the coin C in the direction opposite to the basic transport direction. The distance from the movable-side transport path guide wall 132 is set to the maximum value at which a 500-yen coin can fall. Then, the 5-yen coin C, which is a deformed coin of a different denomination, is ejected from the exclusion hole 37 toward the exclusion box 26 .

As another specific example, for example, the coin of a specific denomination may be a 5-yen coin, and a deformed 50-yen coin of a different denomination may be mixed. In this case, the group determined in step S102 becomes the first group. Since the amplitude value of H is greater than the amplitude threshold value, it is determined that this coin C belongs to the second group instead of the first group determined in step S102. The different denomination coin C (50-yen coin) is ejected from the exclusion hole 37 toward the exclusion box 26 .

As another specific example, for example, the coin of the specific denomination may be a 10-yen coin, and a deformed 100-yen coin of a different denomination may be mixed. In this case, the group determined in step S102 becomes the first group. Since the amplitude value of H is greater than the amplitude threshold value, it is determined that this coin C belongs to the second group instead of the first group determined in step S102. The different denomination coin C (100-yen coin) is ejected from the exclusion hole 37 toward the exclusion box 26 .

As another specific example, for example, the coins of a specific denomination may be 50-yen coins, and deformed 1-yen coins of different denominations may be mixed. In this case, the group determined in step S102 becomes the second group. Since the phase value of H becomes greater than the phase threshold value and the amplitude value becomes equal to or less than the amplitude threshold value, it is determined that this coin C belongs to the first group instead of the second group determined in step S102. This different denomination coin C (one-yen coin) is ejected from the exclusion hole 37 toward the exclusion box 26 in the same manner as the method described above.

As described above, the control unit 15 conveys the coins C along the conveying path 36, and performs the counting of the coins C conveyed along the conveying path 36 and the detection of the magnetic property as the attribute of the coins C in common. The counting sensor 38 classifies the coins C into a plurality of groups based on the magnetic properties of the coins C detected. In other words, the control unit 15 determines to which of the plurality of groups the coin C belongs based on the magnetic property of the coin C detected by the counting sensor 38 . Then, when determining that the conveyed coin C belongs to a group different from the group to which the coin of the specific denomination belongs, the control unit 15 determines that the coin C is a different denomination coin.

In addition, when the control unit 15 determines that the coin C conveyed on the conveying path 36 is a different denomination coin by detection of the magnetic property by the counting sensor 38, the different denomination coin is detected by the counting sensor 38. It is conveyed to the position of the exclusion hole 37 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction when the magnetic property is detected by 38 . At the same time, the control unit 15 changes the width of the exclusion hole 37 by a width changing mechanism (not shown) to a width that allows coins of different denominations to drop, thereby ejecting the coins of different denominations from the transport path 36 .

Here, in a coin processing device that counts coins of a specific denomination, a counting sensor is provided for detecting and counting coins that have been inserted into a depositing unit. A transmissive or reflective magnetic sensor is generally used as the counting sensor. As a result of extensive research, the inventors of the present application have found that coins can be roughly grouped using this counting sensor (transmissive or reflective magnetic sensor). Utilizing this, in the coin processing apparatus 11 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the coin C does not belong to the group to which the coins of the specific denomination to be counted belong, the coin C is a different denomination coin. I tried to judge.

As described above, in the embodiment,
(1) A coin processing device 11 having a function of counting coins C of a specific denomination, comprising a transport path 36 for transporting coins C, counting coins C transported on the transport path 36, and counting the coins C and a control unit 15 for classifying the coins into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the coins C detected by the counting sensor 38. The control unit 15 controls the transport When it is determined that the coin C conveyed on the path 36 belongs to a group different from the group to which the coin of the specific denomination belongs, the coin C is determined to be a coin of a different denomination.

With this configuration, the coin processing device 11 detects the attribute of the coin C using the counting sensor 38 for counting the coins C transported on the transport path 36, and detects the attribute of the detected coin C. Roughly group the coins C into a plurality of groups based on . When it is determined that the coin C belongs to a group different from the group to which the coins of the specific denomination to be counted belong, the coin C is determined to be a different denomination coin. Therefore, when it is determined that the inserted coin C belongs to a group different from the group to which the target coin of the specific denomination belongs, the coin processing device 11 determines that the coin C is a different denomination coin. be able to. Thus, based on the attributes of the coins C detected by the counting sensor 38 that counts the coins C, it is possible to determine whether or not the counted coins C are different denomination coins. By using the counting sensor 38 for detecting different denomination coins, it is possible to appropriately detect different denomination coins while suppressing an increase in part cost, and to appropriately reject different denomination coins. Therefore, compared with the case of providing a dedicated high-precision material detection sensor only for detecting the denomination (material) of a coin, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and to detect coins of different denominations other than the target specific denomination. can be detected.

In addition, although it is difficult to retrofit such a material detection sensor to an existing coin processing apparatus that is not equipped with a material detection sensor, the existing counting sensor 38 for counting coins is used. Different denomination coins can be detected appropriately by using the existing coin processing device 11 as it is only by changing the software.

Furthermore, in order to accurately determine the denomination of coins in the material detection sensor, it is necessary to calibrate the denomination and the sensor output value (sensor adjustment), and this sensor adjustment work is complicated. Since the counting sensor 38 only needs to roughly determine the attribute of the coin, it does not require complicated sensor adjustment (calibration) to detect the material with high accuracy.

(2) The counting sensor 38 is arranged along the width direction of the transport path 36 .

With this configuration, in the coin processing apparatus 11 , the counting sensor 38 is provided along the width direction of the conveying path 36 , so that the diameter of the coin C conveyed on the conveying path 36 is detected by the counting sensor 38 . attributes can be detected. In addition, even if the coin C is shifted in the width direction while being conveyed, the attributes of the coin C can be appropriately acquired.

(3) The attribute of the coin C is the magnetic property of the coin C, and the control unit 15 is configured to classify the coin C into a plurality of groups based on the magnetic property of the coin C.

With this configuration, in the coin processing apparatus 11, the magnetic property determined according to the material, diameter, and thickness of the coin C can be detected by the counting sensor 38. FIG. Therefore, the control unit 15 can roughly group the coins C based on the magnetic properties detected using the counting sensor 38 .

(4) A plurality of groups are configured such that the difference in diameter between coins of a plurality of denominations belonging to the same group is equal to or greater than the first threshold.

With this configuration, the coin processing apparatus 11 processes coins such that the difference between the diameter of one coin and the diameter of other coins belonging to the same group as the one coin is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value. Since the coins are grouped, when one coin is a coin of a specific denomination, coins of a different denomination classified in the same group as the one coin can be appropriately detected based on the difference in diameter.

(5) A plurality of groups are configured such that, when a plurality of coins of different denominations are arranged in order of increasing diameter or decreasing diameter, coins that are not adjacent to each other are grouped together. bottom.

With this configuration, the coin processing apparatus 11 classifies coins having diameters that are not adjacent to each other into the same group. It will differ by more than the threshold. Therefore, the coin processing device 11 can appropriately detect coins of different denominations classified into the same group.

(6) The plurality of groups includes a first group containing 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, and 10-yen coins that are not adjacent to each other when the coins are arranged in order of decreasing diameter or decreasing diameter, and 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins. A second group to which coins belong and a third group to which 500-yen coins belong are included.

With this configuration, the control unit 15 classifies 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, and 10-yen coins having similar magnetic properties into the same first group. Here, the 1-yen coin, the 5-yen coin, and the 10-yen coin are coins of denominations that are not adjacent to each other when arranged in order of diameter. Therefore, even if the 1-yen coin, the 5-yen coin, and the 10-yen coin that belong to the same roughly classified first group, the target specific denomination coin (for example, a 10-yen coin) Coins of different denominations other than denominations (e.g., 1-yen coins or 5-yen coins) differ greatly in diameter (more than a predetermined threshold value), so they are the same as the group to which coins of a specific denomination (e.g., 10-yen coins) belong. Different denomination coins (1-yen coins or 5-yen coins) belonging to the group can be appropriately detected.

Furthermore, the control unit 15 classifies the 50-yen coin and the 100-yen coin, which have similar magnetic properties, into the same second group as in the case of classifying the coins into the first group. Here, the 50-yen coin and the 100-yen coin are coins of denominations that are not adjacent to each other when the coins are arranged in order of increasing diameter or decreasing diameter. Therefore, even if the roughly classified 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins belong to the same second group, the coins of a specific denomination (for example, 100-yen coins) and the coins other than the specific denominations are different. Different denomination coins belong to the same group as coins of a specific denomination (e.g., 100 yen coins) because they differ greatly in diameter (e.g., a predetermined threshold value) from denomination coins (e.g., 50 yen coins). (50 yen coin) can be detected appropriately.

Note that the diameter of the 500-yen coins classified into the third group is significantly different from the diameters of other coins (1-yen coin, 5-yen coin, 10-yen coin, 50-yen coin, and 100-yen coin). By roughly grouping the yen coins, different denomination coins other than the 500 yen coin can be appropriately detected.

(7) A reject mechanism (exclusion hole 37 ) is provided for removing coins of different denominations transported on the transport path 36 from the transport path 36 .

With this configuration, in the coin processing apparatus 11 , different denomination coins conveyed on the conveying path 36 can be reliably rejected by the rejection holes 37 .

(8) The reject mechanism is the exclusion hole 37 whose width is set to allow the coins of different denominations transported on the transport path 36 to drop from the transport path 36, and the width of the reject hole 37 is changed. When the control unit 15 determines that the coin transported on the transport path 36 is a different denomination coin, the control unit 15 rejects the different denomination coin in the direction opposite to the transport direction at the time of attribute detection. The coin is transported to the position of the hole 37, and the width of the exclusion hole 37 is changed by the width changing mechanism to a width that allows coins of different denominations to drop, thereby ejecting coins of different denominations.

With this configuration, if the control unit 15 determines that the coin being conveyed on the conveying path 36 belongs to a group different from the group to which the coin of the target denomination belongs, the control unit 15 moves the coin in the conveying direction. By changing the width of the exclusion hole 37 to a width that allows the coin to drop, the coin can be reliably dropped from the exclusion hole 37 and rejected.

(9) A coin processing method for counting coins C of a specific denomination, in which the coins C are transported along the transport path 36, and the coins C transported along the transport path 36 are counted and the attributes of the coins C are counted. and classifying the detected coins C into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the detected coins C, and determining that the coins C to be transported belong to a group different from the group to which the coins of the specific denomination belong. If so, the coin C is determined to be a coin of a different denomination.

With this configuration, the attribute of the coin C is detected using the sensor for detecting the coin C conveyed on the conveying path 36, and a plurality of coins C are detected based on the detected attribute of the coin C. roughly grouped into groups of When it is determined that the coin C belongs to a group different from the group to which the coin of the specific denomination belongs, the coin C is determined to be a different denomination coin. Therefore, when it is determined that the inserted coin C belongs to a group different from the group to which the target coin of the specific denomination belongs, the coin C can be determined to be a different denomination coin. Thus, based on the attributes of the coin C detected by the sensor that detects the coin C, it is possible to determine whether the detected coin C is a different denomination coin. By using the sensor for detecting the coin C to detect coins of different denominations, it is possible to appropriately detect coins of different denominations while suppressing an increase in component costs. Therefore, compared with the case of providing a dedicated material detection sensor only for discriminating the denomination of the coin C, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and to detect coins of denominations other than the specific denomination. becomes possible. In addition, since existing sensors are used, only software changes are required. Furthermore, since the sensor only needs to roughly determine the attributes of the coin, there is no need for complicated sensor adjustment (calibration) to detect the material with high accuracy.

(10) The attribute of the coin C is the magnetic property of the coin C, and based on the magnetic property of the coin C, the coin C is classified into a plurality of groups.

With this configuration, the sensor can detect the magnetic properties determined according to the material, diameter, and thickness of the coin. Thus, coins can be roughly grouped based on the magnetic properties detected using this sensor.

(11) When a plurality of coins of different denominations are arranged in order of decreasing diameter or decreasing diameter, coins that are not adjacent to each other are set in the same group.

With this configuration, coins with diameters that are not adjacent to each other are classified into the same group, so that the difference in diameter between a specific denomination coin and a different denomination coin belonging to the same group is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. . Therefore, different denomination coins classified into the same group can be detected appropriately.

11: Coin processing device 15: Control unit 36: Conveyance path 37: Exclusion hole (reject mechanism)
38: Count sensor C: Coin

Claims (8)

A coin processing device having a function of counting coins of a specific denomination,
a transport path along which coins are transported;
a counting sensor that counts coins conveyed on the conveying path and detects attributes of the coins;
a control unit that classifies the coins into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the coins detected by the counting sensor;
has
The plurality of groups are
a first group to which a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, and a 10-yen coin that are not adjacent to each other belong when the coins are arranged in order of increasing diameter or decreasing diameter;
a second group to which 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins belong;
The third group to which the 500 yen coin belongs,
The control unit
A coin processing device for determining that a coin conveyed on the conveying path belongs to a group different from a group to which the coin of the specific denomination belongs, and that the coin is a different denomination coin. The counting sensor is
The coin processing device according to claim 1, which is provided along the width direction of the transport path. the attribute of the coin is a magnetic property of the coin;
The control unit
3. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coins are sorted into the plurality of groups based on the magnetic properties of the coins. 4. The coin processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of groups are set such that a difference in diameter between coins of a plurality of denominations belonging to the same group is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Device. 5. The coin processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a reject mechanism for removing coins of different denominations transported on the transport path from the transport path. The reject mechanism is a rejection hole having a width that allows coins of different denominations transported on the transport path to drop from the transport path,
Having a width changing mechanism for changing the width of the exclusion hole,
The control unit
When it is determined that the coin conveyed on the conveying path is a different denomination coin, the different denomination coin is conveyed to the position of the exclusion hole in a direction opposite to the conveying direction when the attribute is detected, and 6. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a width changing mechanism changes the width of said exclusion hole to a width that allows said different denomination coin to drop, thereby ejecting said different denomination coin. A coin processing method for counting coins of a specific denomination,
Conveying coins along a conveying path,
counting coins conveyed along the conveying path and detecting attributes of the coins;
classify the coins into a plurality of groups based on the attributes of the detected coins;
The plurality of groups are
a first group to which a 1-yen coin, a 5-yen coin, and a 10-yen coin that are not adjacent to each other belong when the coins are arranged in order of increasing diameter or decreasing diameter;
a second group to which 50-yen coins and 100-yen coins belong;
The third group to which the 500 yen coin belongs,
A coin processing method for judging that a coin to be conveyed belongs to a group different from a group to which a coin of a specific denomination belongs, the coin being a coin of a different denomination. the attribute of the coin is a magnetic property of the coin;
8. The coin processing method according to claim 7 , wherein the coins are classified into the plurality of groups based on the magnetic properties of the coins.

Images