JPH0129666Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial application field" This invention relates to a counting abnormality detection device for a coin counting machine that issues an alarm when dust or the like adheres to the counting element of the optical system that counts coins. .

``Prior art'' As a conventional coin counter, a coin counter using an optical counting element is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1986-
71190). Figure 1 shows the main parts of a coin counting machine that uses such an optical system counting element.
In the figure, a rotating plate 1 rotating in the direction of arrow A
When coins are inserted into the top, the coins are introduced into the passage 2 one after another. Then, the coins pass through the passage 2 by the guide belt 3 and are accumulated in the coin accumulation cylinder 4. The passage 2 is provided with a stop shaft 5 for opening and closing the passage 2 and photo sensors 6 and 7 for detecting the number of coins passing through the passage 2. Further, a light emitting element (not shown) is disposed above the photo sensors 6, 7, and a coin passes between the photo sensors 6, 7 and the light emitting element.

The passing direction of the coins passing through the passage 2 is detected by photo sensors 6 and 7, and the number of coins is counted. In this way, coins are supplied to the coin accumulating tube 4 while being counted, and when the value reaches a predetermined number, the stop shaft 5 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction of arrow B by a rotary solenoid (not shown). As a result, the supply of coins to the coin stacking tube 4 is stopped.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' By the way, if dust or the like adheres to either of these photo sensors 6 and 7, there is a possibility that the direction of the coins will not be detected and the coins will be counted. In addition, the amount of light incident on the photo sensors 6 and 7 decreases due to this dust or deterioration of the light emitting elements.
This caused the problem that the counting circuit would make incorrect counts. However, conventional coin counting machines of this type have not been provided with a circuit for detecting abnormalities in the optical system.

In view of the above circumstances, this invention provides a counting circuit for a coin counting machine that issues an alarm when dust or the like adheres to the counting element of the optical system for counting coins or when the counting element deteriorates. It is something.

"Means for Solving the Problem" This invention involves arranging the first and second light receiving sections close to each other so that the coin detection timing is shifted at one of the coin detection positions on the coin path, and also Light emitting units are disposed to face each other across the coin path, and the number of coins that have passed in a predetermined direction is counted while detecting the passing direction of the coins based on the outputs of the first and second light receiving units. An abnormality in a counting circuit of a coin counter that outputs an alarm signal when the difference between the number of pulses obtained from the first light receiving section and the number of pulses obtained from the second light receiving section is a certain value or more. A detection section is provided.

"Operation" If there is no abnormality in the optical system, the number of pulses obtained from the first light receiving section and the number of pulses obtained from the second light receiving section are equal. On the other hand, if an abnormality occurs in the optical system and pulses cannot be obtained from either the first or second light receiving section, the number of pulses obtained from the first light receiving section and the pulses obtained from the second light receiving section There will be a difference in numbers. In this invention, the difference in the number of pulses is detected by the abnormality detection section and an alarm signal is output.

"Embodiment" An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a counting anomaly detection device to which this invention is applied.
Reference numeral 10 is a light emitting section made up of a light emitting element. This light emitting section 10 includes photo sensors 6, 1 and 2 of first and second light receiving sections 11 and 12 across a passage 2 shown in FIG.
It emits light to 7.

The first light receiving unit 11 consists of a photo sensor 6 such as a photo diode, and a comparator that converts the electrical signal from the photo sensor 6 into binary logic levels "1" and "0". When the first detection signal is blocked, the first detection signal
SA (SA="1") is sent to the addition/subtraction determination section 13 and the abnormality detection section 14, respectively.

Similarly, the second light receiving section 12 is composed of a photo sensor 7 such as a photo diode, and a comparator that converts the electrical signal from the photo sensor 7 into binary logic levels "1" and "0". When the coin blocks the light emitted from the photo sensor 6, the second detection signal SB (SB="1") is added/subtracted by the addition/subtraction determination unit 13.
and the abnormality detection unit 14.

The addition/subtraction determination unit 13 generates an addition signal UP or a subtraction signal DN from the first and second detection signals SA and SB sent out according to the coin passing direction,
The same addition/subtraction signals UP and DN are sent to the counting control section 15.

The counting control unit 15 includes an up-down counter;
A comparator is provided to compare the count output of this counter with a set value set by a digital switch, etc. When the count output of the counter and the set value match, a match signal CL is sent to a counting stop device. It is sent to the drive section 16.

The counting stop device driving section 16 drives the rotary solenoid 17 based on the coincidence signal CL, and also stops the coin feed motor 18. As a result,
As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary solenoid 17 rotates the stop shaft 5 by 90 degrees in the direction of arrow B, thereby closing the passage 2. On the other hand, coin feed motor 18
stops the rotation of the rotating plate 1 and the guide belt 3.

On the other hand, the abnormality detection section 14 is composed of a NAND gate 19, a NOR gate 20, an OR gate 21, a counter 22, and an SR type flip-flop (hereinafter referred to as SRFF) 23, as shown in FIG. That is, the first and second detection signals SA and SB are applied to each input terminal of the NAND gate 19 and the NOR gate 20, respectively. In addition, each input terminal of the OR gate 21 receives the output signal S1 of the NOR gate 20 and a reset signal from the reset operation section 24.
RS is applied. Further, the counter 22 is
The output signal S2 of the NAND gate 19 is applied to the clock terminal C, and the output signal of the OR gate 21 is applied to the reset terminal R. moreover
SRFF23 has counter 22 on its set terminal S.
A second output signal S3 is applied to the reset terminal R, and a reset signal RS is applied to the reset terminal R. In this case, the second output signal S3 is the second output signal S3 of the counter 22.
The second output signal S3 becomes "1" when the counter 22 counts a certain number "2". When the SRFF 23 is set, the alarm signal AL is sent to the counting stop device drive unit 16.
Alarm display unit 2 consisting of a light-emitting element, etc.
As a result, the passage 2 is closed, the rotating plate 1 and the guide belt 3 are stopped, and the light emitting element is turned on to display an alarm.

Next, the operation of this circuit will be explained based on the waveform diagram shown in FIG.

A in FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram when a coin normally passes through the passage 2 and reaches the coin stacking cylinder 4, and B in FIG. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram when counting becomes impossible due to adhesion. In these figures, each time a coin sequentially passes through the photo sensors 6, 7, the first and second detection signals SA, SB are sequentially sent to the addition/subtraction determination unit 13, and the addition/subtraction determination unit 13 detects the same number of coins as the coins. The addition signal UP is sent to the counting control section 15.

On the other hand, the abnormality detection unit 14 detects that the coin blocks the radiated light to the photo sensor 6 and blocks the radiated light to the photo sensor 7, and at time t1 when the radiated light to the photo sensor 6 enters, the NAND gate 1
The output signal S2 of No. 9 rises. and counter 22
counts 1, but at time t2 when the radiation light enters the photo sensor 7, the Noah gate 2
The output signal S1 of 0 becomes "1", and the counter 2
2 is reset. In this way, during normal times, the abnormality detection section 14 does not send out the alarm signal AL.

Here, assume that at time t3, the photo sensor 7 becomes inoperable due to dust or the like adhering to it. Thereafter, even if the coin passes over the photo sensors 6 and 7, the second detection signal SB becomes "1". Further, in this case, the addition/subtraction determining section 13 does not send out the addition signal UP. When this second detection signal SB becomes "1", the output signal S1 of the NOR gate becomes "0" and the counter 22 is not reset. Then, at time t4 when the next coin finishes passing through the photo sensor 6, the count value of the counter 22 becomes 2, and the SRFF 23 is thereby set. SRFF23
sends an alarm signal AL to the alarm display section 24 and the counting stop device drive section 16.

At this point, counting stops and an alarm is displayed.

In the above embodiment, abnormalities are detected based on the first and second detection signals SA and SB, but it is also possible to provide two counters that integrate the first and second detection signals and compare them sequentially. It is also possible to detect abnormalities.

"Effect of the invention" As explained above, according to this invention, the first
An abnormality detection section that outputs an alarm signal based on the difference between the number of pulses from the second light receiving section and the number of pulses from the second light receiving section is installed, so that dust etc. cannot adhere to the counting element of the optical system that counts coins. An alarm can be issued immediately if the counting element deteriorates. Furthermore, since the first and second light receiving sections are arranged close to each other so that the coin detection timing is shifted at one of the coin detection positions on the coin path,
The passing direction of the coin can be detected based on the output pulses of these light receiving sections, thereby making it possible to avoid erroneous counting due to backward movement of the coin.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a counting device of a coin counting machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the detailed configuration of the abnormality detecting section, and FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of this invention. 2... Passageway, 6, 7... Photo sensor, 11,
12...first and second light receiving sections, 14...abnormality detection section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] The first and second light receiving sections are disposed close to each other so that the coin detection timings are shifted at one of the coin detection positions on the coin path, and the first and second light receiving sections are arranged close to each other so that the coin detection timings are shifted at one of the coin detection positions on the coin path, and the first and second light receiving sections are arranged so as to be opposite to these light receiving sections. A coin counting machine that has a light emitting unit placed between the coin passages and counts the number of hard coins that have passed in a predetermined direction while detecting the passing direction of the coins based on the outputs of the first and second light receiving units. and an abnormality detection section that outputs an alarm signal when the difference between the number of pulses obtained from the first light receiving section and the number of pulses obtained from the second light receiving section is a certain value or more. Counting abnormality detection device for a coin counting machine.