JPH04290191A - Coin recognition processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the throughput of coin recognition of an automatic machine such as an automatic vending machine, an ATM of a banking organ, by recognizing plural coins at a time. CONSTITUTION:A sensor information processing part 2 obtain sensor information on the coins, which are fed at a time and conveyed by a conveyance part 3, from an optical sensor part 4 and recognizes the kinds and numbers of the coins according to the information.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin recognition processing system. Coin recognition performed in automatic machines such as general vending machines and ATMs of financial institutions is performed on a coin-by-coin basis.

It has been pointed out that the efficiency of coin recognition on a single coin basis is inefficient, and there is a demand for improving recognition efficiency by performing recognition processing on a plurality of coins at once.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows an explanatory diagram of conventional coin recognition. For example, the coins 70 to be recognized are transported one by one and passed between the light emitting element 71 and the light receiving element 72, so that the outer shape of the coin is detected, and although not shown, the coin is detected by magnetic changes caused by eddy current, etc. Coin identification (denomination identification) is performed comprehensively.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Coin recognition processing is 1
It has been pointed out that the recognition process is inefficient when there are a large number of coins because it is only performed on a coin-by-coin basis.

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of coin recognition by recognizing a plurality of coins at once.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. A coin mounting section 1 into which a plurality of coins can be inserted simultaneously; a transporting section 3 having a predetermined width so that at least a plurality of coins can be transported simultaneously; It has an optical sensor section 4 that is provided corresponding to the conveyance section 3 and reads information on the coins conveyed by the conveyance section 3, and a sensor information processing section 2, and has a sensor information processing section 2. When a plurality of coins of the type are inserted, the coins are transported by the transport unit 3 having a predetermined width in the transport direction, and the optical sensor unit 4 reads information on the coins being transported, and the sensor information processing unit 2 is
By extracting the characteristics of the coin based on the sensor information and identifying the coin, as well as identifying the number of coins,
Recognize the type and number of coins.

[0007]

[Function] When a plurality of coins are loaded on the coin mounting section 1 which is capable of carrying at least a plurality of coins, and when the coins are conveyed to the conveyance section 3, the optical sensor section 4 detects information about the plurality of coins being conveyed. The sensor information processing unit 2 reads the sensor information, extracts the characteristics of the coin based on the sensor information, and recognizes the type and number of coins, thereby improving the processing efficiency of the coin recognition process.

[0008]

[Example] Figure 2 shows a system configuration diagram of the example, and Figure 3
shows the coin recognition processing procedure of the embodiment.

[0009] When a plurality of coins to be recognized are put into the coin placement section 1 at once, the coin placement section 1 detects the insertion of coins using an optical sensor or the like, and processes the coins into the processing device 1.
The main control unit 15 of No. 0 is notified. Upon receiving the notification, the main control section 15 issues a start command to the transport section 3 as shown in processing step 81.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the coin transport section. The conveyance unit 3 is composed of conveyor belts 12 and 13 having a predetermined width for moving the coin in the conveyance direction, and the conveyor belts 12 and 13 are driven so as to move the coin in the conveyance direction. The coins mounted on the coin placement section 1 are sent out one by one by the coin guide section 14 into the permissible gap between the conveyor belts 12 and 13 without overlapping the coins in the vertical direction when viewed from the side. The conveyance belts 12 and 13 have a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and can convey a plurality of coins simultaneously. Note that the conveyor belts 12 and 13 are made transparent so that reflective sensors are installed to recognize coins, as will be described later. The optical sensor unit 4 includes flat sensors 41, 42, side sensors 43, 44, and a front sensor 40 to detect coins being transported, each of which includes a reflective line sensor consisting of a light emitting diode 31 and a CCD image sensor 32. has been installed.

FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of coin detection. Figure 5 (
5(a) shows the sense (detection) of the coin by the flat sensor 41, and FIG. 5(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken perpendicular to the conveyance direction, showing the state of the coin sense by the side sensors 43, 44. That is, the coin 1 transported by the transport belt 12
1 is a light emitting diode 31 and a CCD image sensor 32
The flat and side surfaces of the coin are sensed by a reflective line sensor consisting of a coin.

[0012] In processing step 82, the optical sensor unit 4 reads information about the coin being transported. In processing step 83, the sensor information processing unit 2 collects sensor information (coin detection image) acquired by the optical sensor unit 4.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a coin detection image. The images from the image sensor of the coin are as follows: Detection by the plane sensor 41 (plane sensor 42) is a plane image 35, detection by the side sensor 43 (side sensor 44) is a side image 37, and detection by the front sensor 40 is a front image. 36 and is input to the sensor information processing section 2.

In processing step 84, the sensor information processing section 2 creates a coin image dictionary file 55 based on the image.
Search for. FIG. 7 shows an explanatory diagram of the coin image dictionary file. The coin image dictionary file 55 stores coin image data (shape, plane pattern, and side pattern) corresponding to the denomination, and is compared with the detected image of the coin. In processing step 85, the sensor information processing section 2 identifies the denomination of the coin and counts the number of coins. In processing step 86, when the coin information read by the optical sensor unit 4 is no longer input within a predetermined time interval, the sensor information processing unit 2 determines that recognition of the inserted coin is complete and notifies the main control unit 15 of recognition completion. issue.

The coins are discharged from the transport section 3 to the coin storage section 39. Further, the coins 11 in the conveying section 3 are sent out between the belts 12 and 13 by the coin guide section 14 so that the coins do not overlap in the vertical direction, but there may be cases where the coins overlap in the vertical direction. As shown in the overlapping coin images in FIG. 8 (FIG. 8), coins are identified based on detection information from the plane image, side image, and front image.

[0016] In recognizing the overlapping of coins, the type of coin is identified based on the detection information of the front image and the back image.

[0017]

Effects of the Invention: A plurality of coins are loaded on the coin placement section 1, which is capable of carrying at least a plurality of coins, and transported, and the optical sensor section 4 reads information on the plurality of coins, and the sensor information processing section 2 By recognizing the types and numbers of multiple coins, it is possible to improve the efficiency of coin recognition.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Block diagram of the principle of the present invention

[Figure 2] System configuration diagram of the embodiment

[Figure 3] Coin recognition processing procedure in the example.

[Figure 4]
Diagram for explaining the coin transport section

[Figure 5] Coin detection explanatory diagram

[Figure 6] Example of coin detection image

[Figure 7] Explanatory diagram of coin image dictionary file

[Figure 8]
Overlapping coin images

[Figure 9] Illustration of conventional coin recognition

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a coin placement section, 10 is a processing device, 12 and 13 are conveyor belts, 14 is a coin guide section, 15 is a main control section, 2 is a sensor information processing section, 3 is a conveyance section, 31 is a light emitting diode, 32 is a CCD image sensor, 35 is a plane image, 36 is a front image, 37 is a side image, 39 is a coin storage section, 4 is an optical sensor section, 40 is a front sensor, 41 and 42 are plane sensors, 43 and 44 are side sensors, 55 indicates a coin image dictionary file, and 81 to 86 indicate processing steps.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A coin placement section (1) into which a plurality of coins can be inserted at the same time, and a coin placement section (1) having a predetermined width so that at least a plurality of coins can be conveyed at the same time, and mounted on the coin placement section (1). an optical sensor section (4) provided corresponding to the conveyance section (3) that reads information on the coins conveyed by the conveyance section (3); When a plurality of coins of a predetermined type are inserted into the coin placement part (1), the transport part (3) having a predetermined width in the transport direction picks up the corresponding coins. The coin is transported, the optical sensor section (4) reads information about the coin being transported, and the sensor information processing section (2) extracts the characteristics of the coin based on the sensor information to identify the coin and determine the number of coins. A coin recognition processing method that recognizes the type and number of coins by identifying them.