JPH01129390A - Coin selector-processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely distinguish the throw in of all coins from the opening of a coin passage including counterfeite coins by a magnetic material by detecting an oscillation frequency along with the amplitude of signals. CONSTITUTION: A coin judgment device 28 judges that the coin is fed when the output voltage V1 of a detection part 6 becomes lower than a prescribed level α and the output voltage V2 of a detection circuit 24 is lowered exceeding the prescribed level β. Then, the propriety of the coin is discriminated based on the output voltage signals of the detection part 6 corresponding to the detection signals of a coin measurement sensor 4 and the output voltage signals of the detection circuit 24 corresponding to the detection signals of the coin measurement sensor 9 and the coin judgment device 28 controls the opening and closing of a coin gate 10. An opening detector 29 judges that the coin passage 3 is opened when the output voltage V1 of the detection part 6 becomes lower than the prescribed level α, the output voltage V2 of the detection circuit 24 is not lowered to the prescribed level β and the frequency of the output signals of the coin measurement sensor 9 is raised exceeding the prescribed level γ. Thus, malfunctions are surely prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Industrial Application Field The present invention is a coin sorting processing device that electronically sorts coins using a coin measuring sensor. The present invention relates to a device capable of detecting motion.

(b) Conventional technology The conventional technology for such a device is the Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-137.
There is a configuration shown in Publication No. 97.

This includes a pair of opposing side walls that can be opened and closed and form a coin passage when closed, and a pair of side walls each having one side in the 4' direction.
When the interaction value of the oscillating coils reaches a first predetermined value, a genuine coin is sent to the coin passage. and a control circuit that determines that the customer has operated the return lever and opened the set of side walls when the second predetermined value is reached.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In this configuration, there is a reverse phase connection as a method for connecting the oscillation coils in series.If the inductance of each oscillation coil at this time is L+, L2, the total inductance L is (L =Ll+L!2M). (M is mutual inductance) At this time, when the coin passage is opened, the oscillation coils are spaced apart, the mutual inductance becomes close to 0, the inductance L increases, and the oscillation frequency decreases. On the other hand, if a conductive object such as a coin is placed between the oscillating coils, it will be affected by eddy currents.
, L, respectively decrease, and the mutual inductance also decreases, but when the coin passage is open, none decreases, so the inductance decreases and the oscillation frequency increases.

Therefore, by checking the increase or decrease in the oscillation frequency, it is possible to distinguish between coin insertion and opening of the coin passage.

However, even if it is a conductive material, if a magnetic material such as Ni or stainless steel is added, these materials have a high effect of magnetically shielding between the oscillation coils, and the mutual inductance becomes 0.
Therefore, the inductance increases and the mechanical oscillation frequency decreases. Although this material does not have a fatal drawback because it is never used up as a coin material, it is still difficult to distinguish between a case where a counterfeit coin made of magnetic material is inserted and a case where the coin passage is opened. This is inconvenient in various ways.

Therefore, if we consider the case where two oscillation coils are connected in the same phase, when a conductive object is brought close to the circuit, the resistance of the circuit increases due to the influence of eddy current and the induced voltage decreases. This result is the same even if the conductive material is magnetic. Therefore, by connecting the oscillation coils in phase and detecting the amplitude of the signal, it is possible to reliably distinguish between coin insertion and opening of the coin passage.

However, in the case of in-phase connection, the amplitude also decreases when the coin path is opened. The width of this fluctuation is extremely small compared to the insertion of a coin, and the temperature and circuit element drift I-
There is a drawback that it cannot be distinguished from fluctuations due to

Therefore, the present invention provides a coin that can reliably distinguish between the insertion of all coins, including counterfeit coins made of magnetic material, and the opening of the coin passage by detecting the oscillation frequency as well as the amplitude of the signal in a configuration in which oscillation coils are connected in phase. The present invention provides a sorting processing device.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the coin sorting and processing device according to the present invention has a pair of opposing side walls that can be opened and closed and form a coin passage when closed. A first coin 41 that includes a pair of oscillation coils that are attached to a pair of side walls facing each other and are connected in series and in phase to each other to induce an oscillation magnetic field.
a second coin measuring sensor installed upstream of the first coin measuring sensor in the coin passage; and a first comparing device that outputs a signal when the output level of the second coin measuring sensor exceeds a predetermined level. and a second comparison device that determines whether the frequency of the output signal from the first coin measurement sensor has increased and exceeds a predetermined frequency.
a third comparison device that determines whether the voltage of the output signal has decreased and is below a predetermined voltage value; and a third comparison device that determines whether the voltage of the output signal has decreased and is below a predetermined voltage value; - detects that a coin has been inserted when the voltage value of the output signal is less than the predetermined voltage value, and determines the suitability of the coin based on the output signals of the first and second coin measuring sensors. and the output level of the second coin measuring sensor exceeds the predetermined level, the voltage value of the output signal of the first coin measuring sensor has not reached the predetermined voltage value, and the frequency of the output signal is The apparatus further includes an open detection device that detects the opening of the coin passage when the predetermined frequency is exceeded.

(N) Effect When a coin is inserted into the coin passage or the coin passage is opened, the output level of the second coin measurement sensor fluctuates and exceeds a predetermined level.The second comparison device compares the output signal of the first coin measurement sensor. When the frequency rises above the standby frequency and exceeds a predetermined frequency, it is determined that a coin has been inserted or the coin passage has been opened.The output voltage of the first coin measurement sensor is
It descends when a coin is inserted or the coin passage is opened. However, when a conductive object such as a coin passes through the first coin measurement sensor, the resistance of the circuit increases, so the output voltage in this case drops more than if the coin path is open. Therefore, the third comparator determines that a coin has been inserted when the output voltage of the first coin measurement sensor decreases and falls below a predetermined voltage value, and determines that the coin path is open when the voltage does not fall to the predetermined voltage value. do. The coin determination device is configured such that the output level of the second coin measurement sensor exceeds a predetermined level;
If the voltage value of the output signal of the first coin measurement sensor falls and is less than the predetermined voltage value, the appropriateness of the coin is determined based on the output signals of the first and second coin measurement sensors. on the other hand,
The open detection device detects that the output level of the second coin measurement sensor exceeds a predetermined level, the jM voltage value of the output signal of the first coin measurement sensor has not reached a predetermined voltage value, and the frequency of the output signal is a predetermined value. If the frequency is exceeded, it is determined that the coin passage is open. As a result, even if the output voltage of the first coin measurement sensor drops due to drift, the final judgment that the coin passage is open will not be made unless the frequency of the output signal exceeds a predetermined level, and there will be no misjudgment. .

(f) Embodiment Figure 2 shows the configuration of the coin sorting processing device, and shows the coin input slot (
A coin passage (3) communicating with the coin passageway (3) is formed by closing a pair of side walls (1) and (2) which can be opened and closed. Coins rolling on the coin rail (8) and passing through the coin passage <3) are detected by a coin measuring sensor <4) disposed on the side wall (1).
, (9), the characteristics of the coin are measured, and the suitability of the coin is determined based on the measurement results. At the end of the coin rail (8), there is a coin gate <10) which is a means for sorting, and usually protrudes from the side wall 1) and connects the coin passage <3> and the return passage (1).
1). Therefore, if a coin passing through the coin passageway (3) is a counterfeit coin, the coin gate (10) is maintained in a protruding state and the coin is returned through the return passageway (11). If the coin is a genuine coin, the coin gate (10) exits and the coin is introduced into a genuine coin passageway (12), and then passes through a predetermined coin pipe (13) according to the type of coin.

It is stored in (14) and (15).

In a vending machine, when a customer changes their mind about purchasing a product and wants to return the inserted coins, they operate a return lever (not shown) provided on the front panel. 16), and when the wiper (17) rotates about the shaft (18) by the operation of the return lever (16>), the protrusion (19) pushes away the bottle (20>, so the side wall (2) 21), the coin passage (3) is opened.

The open state shown in FIG. 2 is a state in which the side wall (2) is manually rotated to the maximum extent, and the return lever (16) is only slightly opened when the return lever (16) is operated. When it detects that the wiper (17) rotates due to the operation of the return lever (16),
The coin sorting processing device is configured to return the inserted amount or the remaining amount after the sale, and drive the change dispensing device to pay out the inserted amount or remaining amount based on the order of storage in an amount storage unit (not shown). . A return lever like this (16)
Opening of the coin passage (3) and wiper (17) by the operation of
This is because the rotation of the coin passage (3) is also applied to remove the inserted coin if it becomes clogged in the coin passage (3>).

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the sorting processing circuit in blocks, and the coin measuring sensor (4) includes a transmitting coil (4A) and a receiving coil (4B) connected to an oscillator (5).
The receiving coil (4B) has a detection section (6) that performs amplification and detection.
>It is connected to the. The coin measuring sensor (9>) has oscillation coils (9A) and (9B) connected in series and in phase to an oscillator (22), and the output of the oscillator (22) is passed through an amplifier circuit (23>) to a detection circuit (24). ).The coin measuring sensor (4〉) is introduced into the transmitting coil (4A
) and the receiving coil (4B) based on the amount of magnetic flux shielded by it when passing between the receiving coil (4B) and the receiving coil (4B).
B) The characteristics of the coin are detected by the fluctuation of the induced voltage. 1st
As shown in FIG. 3, the comparator (25) determines that a coin has been inserted when the output voltage (2) of the detection section (6) falls below a predetermined level α. Furthermore, even when the distance between the transmitting coil (4A) and the receiving coil (4B) increases due to the opening of the coin passage (3), the amount of magnetic flux exerted by the transmitting coil (4A) on the receiving coil decreases, causing the induced 'voltage' to decrease. decreases, and the output voltage (1) of the detection section (6) becomes less than the predetermined level α. Therefore, when the output voltage vl falls below a predetermined level, the first comparator jl (25) inputs a coin or inserts a coin into the coin path (
3> is detected as open.

When a conductive object such as a coin passes between a set of oscillation coils (9A>, (9B)), the output signal of the coin measurement sensor (9) increases the circuit resistance of the oscillator (22) according to its characteristics. Therefore, its amplitude decreases.Also, the coin passage (
When the oscillation coils (9A) and (9B) are separated by opening 3), the inductance also decreases, so the amplitude of the output signal of the coin measuring sensor (9) decreases. However, the amount of change in amplitude is much larger when a coin is inserted. As shown in FIG.
If it is within the predetermined level β, it is determined that the coin passage (3) is open, and if it has descended beyond the predetermined level β, it is determined that a coin has been inserted.

Furthermore, the frequency of the output signal of the coin measurement sensor (9) increases because the inductance of the oscillator (22) decreases when a coin is inserted or the coin path (3) is opened. If the coin passage (3) is opened at this time, the mutual inductance is 0 compared to the case where a coin is inserted.
Since it becomes close to , it becomes smaller than the inductance and the frequency becomes higher. The second comparator (27) includes an amplifier circuit (23
) The frequency is measured by counting the output signal of the oscillator (22), which is applied through It is determined that the passage (3) is open.

The coin determination device (28>) detects the output voltage ■1 of the detection unit (6).
is below the predetermined level α, and the output voltage ■2 of the detection circuit (24) has fallen beyond the predetermined level β, it is determined that a coin has been inserted, and the output voltage is determined to be in response to the detection signal of the coin measuring sensor (4). a detection circuit (24) according to the output voltage signal of the detection unit (6) and the detection signal of the coin measurement sensor (9);
The suitability of this coin is determined based on the output voltage signal of the coin. The coin determining device (28) controls opening and closing of the coin gate (10) according to the determination result. Open detection device (29
), the output voltage vI of the detection unit (6>) is below the predetermined level α, the output voltage (■) of the detection circuit (24) has not fallen to the predetermined level β, and the coin measuring sensor (9) is When the frequency of the output signal rises above a predetermined level 7, it is determined that the coin passageway 3) is completely opened. As a result, the opening detection device (29) outputs a signal instructing the return of the deposited amount and remaining amount.

According to the coin sorting device described in L, when a magnetic object is thrown in, the output voltage of the detection circuit (24) drops beyond a predetermined level β, so it is mistakenly determined that the coin passage (3) is open. There's nothing to do. Furthermore, even if the output voltage of the detection circuit (24) fluctuates due to drift, as long as the frequency of the coin measurement sensor 9) does not exceed the predetermined level 7, the coin path (
3) is not determined to be open, malfunctions due to drift can also be prevented.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, in a coin sorting device that distinguishes between the insertion of a coin and the opening of a coin passage using a coin measurement sensor having a set of oscillation coils connected in phase, it is possible to detect whether any kind of conductive material is inserted. Since this cannot be mistaken for an opening of the coin passage, malfunctions can be reliably prevented. Moreover, even if the standby frequency of the oscillation coil fluctuates, it will not be mistaken as an open coin passage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the circuit section of the coin sorting processing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the mechanism section, and FIG.
The figure shows a voltage waveform diagram of the second coin measuring sensor when a coin is inserted, and FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show a voltage waveform diagram and a frequency characteristic diagram of the first coin measuring sensor when a coin is inserted. (3)...Coin passage, (4)...Second coin measurement sensor, (9>...First coin measurement sensor, (9A)
, (9B>... oscillation coil, (25)... first comparator, (26)... third comparator, (27
>> Second comparison device, (28) Coin determination device, (29) Open detection device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of opposing side walls that can be opened and closed and form a coin passage when closed, and a pair of oscillation coils that are installed opposite to each other on the side walls and are connected in series and in phase to each other to induce an oscillating magnetic field. a first coin measuring sensor equipped with a second coin measuring sensor, a second coin measuring sensor installed upstream of the first coin measuring sensor in the coin passage, and outputting a signal when the output level of the second coin measuring sensor exceeds a predetermined level. a first comparison device that determines whether the frequency of the output signal from the first coin measurement sensor increases and exceeds a predetermined frequency; a third comparison device that determines whether the value is divided by the second coin measurement sensor; and a third comparison device that determines whether the output level of the second coin measurement sensor exceeds the predetermined level and the voltage value of the output signal of the first coin measurement sensor is the predetermined voltage value. When the coin is being split, it is detected that a coin has been inserted, and the corresponding first and second coins are inserted.
a coin determination device that determines whether a coin is suitable based on an output signal of a coin measurement sensor; and a coin determination device that determines whether a coin is appropriate based on an output signal of a coin measurement sensor; A coin sorting and processing device comprising: an open detection device that detects the opening of the coin passage when a predetermined voltage value has not been reached and the frequency of the output signal exceeds the predetermined frequency.