JPH05282519A - Coin sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely select not only coins different in the quality of materials but also those different in a diameter among the coins whose quality of the materials are almost the same by providing plural reception-side coils and transmission-side coils and installing the transmission-side coils in positions different in height from the floor of a coin passage. CONSTITUTION:The transmission-side coil 20 is installed in the position lower than the transmission-side coil 20u. The center of the transmission-side coil 20 is installed almost in the same height as the center position of the coin 70 when the coin 70 rotates the passage 71. The center of the transmission-side coil 20u is installed almost in the same position as the locus of the upper edge part of the coin 70 when the coin 70 rotates the passage 71. Current having a prescribed frequency is made to flow into the transmission-side coils 20 and 20u. The reception-side coils 30 and 30u are installed in the positions where an electromagnetic field component from the transmission-side coils 20 and 20u is received through the coin passage 71, and the types of the coins 70 are judged in accordance with received data which the reception-side coils 30 and 30u receive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sensor used in a coin sorter or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional coin sensor used in a coin sorter or the like utilizes a coil installed on a wall of a coin passage and the inductance of the coil changes when a coin approaches the coil. A sine wave current of about several kHz is applied to the coil. However, when trying to select coins in this way, among the coin series of aluminum series (1 yen), brass series (5 yen), copper series (10 yen), and copper series (50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen) It is possible to select the series, but among the bronze coins, it is not possible to select between 50 yen coins and 100 yen coins, and even between 500 yen coins and 500 won coins. There is a drawback that you cannot do it.

To overcome this drawback, the Applicant has proposed a coin screening method which uses two signals of different frequencies. That is, the coil on the transmitting side and the coil on the receiving side are opposed to each other with the coin passage interposed therebetween, and a low-frequency current (for example, 10 kHz) and a high-frequency current (for example, 160 kHz) are alternately applied to the coil on the transmitting side to receive the coil on the receiving side. Both signals are received by the coil of and the lowest value of the low frequency voltage component,
The coins are sorted based on the lowest value of the high frequency voltage component. That is, if a coin exists between the coil on the transmitting side and the coil on the receiving side, an eddy current flows in the coin, which causes the electromagnetic field component generated on the transmitting side to be transmitted to the coil on the receiving side. Although the field component is attenuated, the amount of this attenuation varies from coin to coin, and even if two coins have the same amount of attenuation in a low frequency electromagnetic field, they have different amounts of attenuation in a high frequency electromagnetic field. Therefore, if two signals with different frequencies are used, the copper-based 500
It is possible to reliably select coins of almost the same shape such as a yen coin and a 500 won coin.

[0004]

However, since the coin of 500 yen and the coin of 1 ruble are almost the same in material, the above conventional device cannot select between them. However, the diameter of a coin of 500 yen is 26.5 millimeters, the diameter of a coin of one ruble is 27.0 millimeters, and the diameter between the two is 0.5.
Although there is a millimeter difference, it is difficult to accurately distinguish such a difference.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coin sensor which can sort coins made of different materials, and can surely sort coins made of almost the same material, if they have slightly different diameters. To do.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a receiving side coil is provided at a position where an electric current having a predetermined frequency is passed through a transmitting side coil and an electromagnetic field component from the transmitting side coil is received through a coin passage. In a coin sensor that determines the type of coin according to the received data received by the side coil, a plurality of receiving side coils and a plurality of transmitting side coils are provided, and these transmitting side coils are arranged above the floor of the coin passage. Are installed in different positions.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the receiving side coil is provided at a position where a current having a predetermined frequency is passed through the transmitting side coil and the electromagnetic field component from the transmitting side coil is received through the coin passage.
In the coin sensor that determines the type of coin according to the received data received by the receiving side coil, a plurality of transmitting side coils are provided, and these transmitting side coils are installed at positions where the heights of the coin passage from the floor are different from each other. Since it has been
It goes without saying that coins of different materials can be selected, and if the diameters are slightly different, the difference in the diameters can be surely grasped, and therefore the coins can be surely selected.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 (1) is an overall configuration diagram thereof, and FIG. 1 (2) is
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the transmission side coil 20 and the transmission side coil 20u in the above embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of the signal generation circuit 10 in the above embodiment.

First, the signal generating circuit 10 has a frequency of 160 kHz.
And sine wave signals of 10 kHz are generated internally, and C
The PU 60 is a circuit in which the output frequency is switched and the destination of the generated signal is controlled. The high frequency signal generating circuit 11 generates a sine wave signal of 160 kHz, and
Low frequency signal generation circuit 12 for generating a sine wave signal of Hz
, Switches 13, 14, 16, 17 and inverter 1
5 and 18. The switch 13 is turned on when the first switching signal from the CPU 60 is an H signal (High signal), and is a high frequency signal (sine wave signal of 160 kHz).
To the transmitting side coils 20 and 20u described later, and the switch 1
4, the first switching signal from the CPU 60 is the L signal (L
ow signal), it is inverted by the inverter 15 and turned on, and sends a low frequency signal (10 kHz sine wave signal) to the transmission side coils 20 and 20u. The switch 16 outputs the second switching signal from the CPU 60 at H level.
When the signal is a signal, it is turned on and sends the signal to the transmission side coil 20, and when the second switching signal from the CPU 60 is the L signal, the switch 17 is inverted by the inverter 18 and turned on, and the signal is sent. It is to be sent to the transmission side coil 20u.

The transmitting side coils 20 and 20u are 160 kH
z is a coil for passing a sinusoidal current of 10 kHz, and the receiving side coils 30 and 30u are respectively the transmitting side coil 2
It is a coil that faces signals 0 and 20u and receives signals from the transmission side coils 20 and 20u. Transmission side coils 20, 20
u and the receiving side coils 30 and 30u are respectively connected to the ferrite cores 21 and 21u and 3u via a bobbin (not shown).
It is wound around 1,31u. Transmitting coil 20, 20u
And the receiving side coils 30 and 30u between the coin passage 7
1 is provided, and the floor 72 of this coin passage 71 is connected to the coin 7
0 rolls. In the coin passage 71, a portion (coin detection area) located between the transmitting side coils 20 and 20u and the receiving side coils 30 and 30u is made of a material other than a conductor, for example, plastic. The length of the ferrite core 21u is shorter than that of the ferrite core 21.

Also, from the floor 72 of the passage to the transmitting coil 20.
Is different from the distance H1 from the floor 72 to the transmitting coil 20u, the distance H1 from the floor 72 to the transmitting coil 20 is shorter than the distance H2 from the floor 72 to the transmitting coil 20u. There is. That is, the transmission side coil 20 is installed at a position lower than the transmission side coil 20u, and the center of the transmission side coil 20 is approximately at the same height as the center position of the coin 70 when the coin 70 is rolling in the passage 71. Is installed, and the center of the transmission side coil 20u is installed at almost the same height as the locus of the upper end portion of the coin 70 when the coin 70 is rolling in the passage 71. The transmitter coil 20 and the receiver coil 30 mainly detect a difference in material of the coin 70, and the transmitter coil 20u and the receiver coil 30u mainly detect a difference in diameter of the coin 70. It is a thing.

Further, the differential amplifier circuit 40 is for amplifying the signal received by the receiving coil 30, the diode 51 rectifies the output signal of the differential amplifier circuit 40, and the capacitor 52 the rectified signal. Is smoothed and the peak value of the data is held. The electric charge charged in the capacitor 52 is constantly discharged through the resistor 53, but the switch 54 changes the electric charge charged in the capacitor 52 to
All the data is discharged after the data is taken in, and its on / off control is performed by the CPU 60 and is synchronized with the data taking operation. Further, when the discharge time is sufficient, the switch 54 may not be provided and spontaneous discharge may be performed. The A / D conversion circuit 55 converts an analog signal indicating the voltage across the capacitor 52 into a digital signal.

The differential amplifier circuit 40u includes the receiving coil 30.
u amplifies the signal received by the diode 5
1u, capacitor 52u, resistor 53u, switch 54
u and the A / D conversion circuit 55u respectively include the diode 5
1, capacitor 52, resistor 53, switch 54, A / D
It is similar to the conversion circuit 55.

The CPU 60 always keeps the high frequency current (16
0 kHz) to the transmission side coil 20 and the transmission side coil 2
The reception level (detection level) is reduced to a value of a predetermined ratio (75%) of the reception level (non-shielding level) of the reception side coil 30 when the coin 70 does not pass between 0 and the reception side coil 30. At that time, the high frequency current is switched to the transmission side coil 20u, and when the reception level at that time becomes the minimum value, a low frequency current (10 kHz) is flown to the transmission side coil 20u, and the high frequency current is transmitted to the transmission side coil 20. The low-frequency current is caused to flow through the transmission side coil 20, and the reception level of each is measured.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

First, an outline of the operation of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the outline of the above-mentioned embodiment.
(1) is a diagram showing a state where a coin 70a having a relatively short diameter has passed, and FIG. 3 (2) is a diagram showing a state where a coin 70b having a relatively long diameter has passed.

In FIG. 3 (1), since the coin 70a has a relatively short diameter, the coil 20u from the transmitter coil 20u to the receiver coil 3 is
Of the electromagnetic wave components toward 0u, the component attenuated by the coin 70a is small. On the other hand, in FIG. 3 (2), since the coin 70b has a relatively long diameter, many of the electromagnetic wave components traveling from the transmitting side coil 20u to the receiving side coil 30u are attenuated by the coin 70b. Therefore, while the coins 70a and 70b pass through the coin detection area,
The minimum value of the output voltage of the receiving side coil 30u when the coin 70a having a short diameter passes by the voltage components output by the receiving side coil 30u is different,
It becomes higher than the minimum value of the output voltage of the receiving side coil 30u when b passes. The difference in the diameter of the passing coin is detected by the difference in the output voltage.

If a coin having a shorter diameter than the coin 70a shown in FIG.
Of the electromagnetic wave components generated in step 1, the components attenuated by the coin are smaller than in the case of FIG. 3A, and the electromagnetic wave components generated in the transmission side coil 20u and reaching the reception coil 30 are further increased. On the other hand, when a coin having a diameter larger than that of the coin 70b shown in FIG. 3 (2) passes, among the electromagnetic wave components generated in the transmitting coil 20u, the component attenuated by the coin is the case of FIG. 3 (2). Even more than that of the receiving coil 30 generated in the transmitting coil 20u.
The electromagnetic wave component that reaches the position is further reduced.

Since the length of the ferrite core 21u is shorter than that of the ferrite core 21, the overall shape of the coin sensor is reduced.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

First, initial setting is performed (S1), and the coin 7
When 0 is not rolling in the coin passage 71, the receiving level V at 160 kHz received by the receiving coil 30
160 is measured (S2). That is, when power is turned on, 1
The CPU 60 instructs the signal generation circuit 10 to output a signal of 60 kHz to the transmission side coil 20, a 160 kHz signal flows through the transmission side coil 20, and the reception side coil 3
0 receives a signal of 160 kHz, the amplifier circuit 40 amplifies it, the diode 51 passes only its positive half-wave component, and the capacitor 52 holds the positive peak value.

Although not shown in the figure, the amplifier circuit 4
A diode connected to the output terminal of 0 in the opposite direction to the diode 51, a capacitor for holding a negative peak value, a resistor similar to the resistor 53, a switch similar to the switch 54, A subtractor is provided for obtaining the difference between the negative peak value and the positive peak value (that is, peak-peak value). Then, the peak-peak value is converted into a digital value by the A / D conversion circuit 55, and the CPU 60 takes in the digital value. The reception level V160 at this time is stored in the variable V0 as the non-shielding level (S3). The differential amplifier 40
A circuit similar to the above is also added to the u to A / D conversion circuit 55u, and the peak-peak value can be obtained.

Then, the current reception level V160 is measured (S4), and the reception level V160 at this time is set to the variable V1.
(S5), the current reception level V160 is compared with the value of 75% of the non-shielding level V0 (S6). Here, the value of 75% of the non-shielding level V0 is the non-shielding level V0.
It is a value obtained by subtracting a value obtained by shifting the digital value of the non-shielding level V0 by 2 bits to the right (a value of 25% of the non-shielding level V0) from the digital value of 0 (100% of the non-shielding level V0). .. If the current reception level V160 is larger than 75% of the non-shielding level V0, the non-shielding level V0 is used as it is until one minute elapses (S7), and the current reception level V160 is sampled each time sampling is performed. Is repeated with the value of 75% of the non-shielding level V0 (S4, S5, S6), and after one minute has passed, the process returns to S2 to update the value of the non-shielding level V0 (S2, S3),
The current reception level V160 is 75% of the unshielded level V0.
Compare with the value of.

On the other hand, if the current reception level V160 is less than 75% of the non-shielding level V0 (S6), it can be determined that a coin is present in the coin detection area, and the coin determination operation is started in earnest. To do. That is, the signal generation circuit 1 is configured so that a signal of 160 kHz is passed through the transmission side coil 20u.
The CPU 60 commands 0 to measure the reception level V160u of the reception side coil 30u at this time (S11),
The minimum value of the reception level V160u is stored (S12). That is, the reception level V1 measured up to immediately before
Minimum of 60u and reception level V16 measured this time
The smaller value of 0u is stored as the minimum value of the reception level V160u. When the reception level V160u is measured first, the value is set to the reception level V160u.
Is stored as the minimum value of. When a value larger than the minimum value is detected (S13), the coin 70
However, the operation of detecting the minimum value of the reception level V160u is stopped, and the current minimum value is determined as the minimum value.

At this time, the CPU 60 gives an instruction to the signal generating circuit 10 so that a signal of 10 kHz is supplied to the transmitting coil 20u. At this time, the receiving coil 3
The reception level V10u of 0 is measured, and the reception level V1
0u is stored as the minimum value of the reception level V10u (S
21).

Next, the CPU 6 is sent to the signal generating circuit 10 so that a signal of 160 kHz is passed to the transmitting coil 20.
0, the reception level V160 of the reception side coil 30 is measured at this time, and the reception level V160 is stored as the minimum value of the reception level V160 (S22). That is, since the transmitting coils 20 and 20u are present at the same position in the moving direction of the coin 70, the receiving level V16
Reception level V1 detected when 0u becomes the minimum value
60 is the minimum value of the reception level V160.

A signal of 10 kHz is transmitted to the coil 2 on the transmission side.
CPU 60 for the signal generation circuit 10 so as to flow to 0.
Commanded, and at this time the reception level V of the reception side coil 30
10 is measured, and the reception level V10 is set to the reception level V1.
It is stored as the minimum value of 0 (S23).

The reception level V1 thus detected
The type of coin is determined according to the minimum value of 60u, V10u, V160, and V10 (S30). Based on the minimum value of the confirmed 160 kHz component in the receiving side coil 30 and the minimum value of the 10 kHz component, mainly the difference in the material of the coin 70 is grasped, and the minimum value of the confirmed 160 kHz component in the receiving side coil 30u. Based on the minimum value of the 10 kHz component, the difference in the diameter of the coin 70, mainly the coin, is recognized.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, since the transmitting coil 20u is provided near the upper end portion of the coin 70 other than the central portion thereof, even if the coins of substantially the same material have slightly different diameters, the diameter of the coins will be reduced. You can surely grasp the difference.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the above embodiment, and is a diagram showing an input signal of the A / D conversion circuit 55.

In FIG. 5, when there is no shielding (when the coin 70 is not present in the coin detection area), 160 kH
The reception level V160 of z is 100%, and at this time, a signal of 160 kHz flows through the transmission side coil 20, and at time t1, the reception level V160 of 160 kHz drops to 75% of the value without unshielding. , 160k
The signal of Hz flows to the transmission side coil 20u, and the reception level V160 becomes minimum at time t2 (reception level V160u
m)), at time t3, a signal of 10 kHz flows to the transmission side coil 20u, the reception level V10u thereof is detected (this detection level is the reception level V10mu), and at time t4, a signal of 160 kHz is transmitted to the transmission side coil. 20, the reception level V160 is detected (this detection level is the reception level V160m), and at time t5, 10
A signal of kHz flows through the transmitting coil 20, and the reception level V10 thereof is detected (this detection level is the reception level V
10m).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the transmission side coils 20 and 20u are arranged at different positions with respect to the moving direction of the coin 70. In FIG. 6A, the transmission side coil 20 is arranged in the moving direction of the coin 70.
It is located upstream of u, and the height H3 from the floor 72 of the coin passage to the transmitting coil 20 is almost the same as the radius of the coin 70. The height H4 up to 20u is set to be substantially the same as the diameter length of the coin 70. On the other hand, in FIG. 6B, the coil 20 on the transmitting side is moved with respect to the moving direction of the coin 70.
Is located downstream of the transmission side coil 20u, and the height H5 from the floor 72 of the passage to the transmission coil 20 is almost the same as the radius of the coin 70. The height H6 to the transmission side coil 20u is set to be substantially the same as the diameter length of the coin 70.

As described above, the transmitting side coils 20, 20u
However, if the coins 70 are arranged at different positions with respect to the moving direction of the coin 70, the timing when the signal sent from the transmission side coil 20 to the reception side coil 30 becomes the minimum and the transmission side coil 20u changes to the reception side coil 30u. Since the timing at which the sent signal is minimized deviates, both of the above minimum values can be reliably captured as data.

If three transmitting coils are provided, even a coin with a small diameter can be accurately discriminated and the existence of a hole for a coin with a small diameter can be detected. To detect this hole, a photo sensor or a magnetic sensor may be used instead of the above-mentioned transmitting side coil and receiving side coil.
Further, in the above embodiment, the reception levels V160, V
Instead of detecting 10, only the reception level V160 may be detected. In this case, although the reception level V10 is not detected, it is possible to discriminate a copper-based coin.

The order of the combination of the transmitting side coil to be applied and the frequency of the signal to be applied may be other than the above, and the frequency to be used may be other than the above.

Further, in the above embodiment, the currents having two frequencies are passed through the transmitting side coil, but only the currents having the same frequency may be passed through the transmitting side coil. Even in this case, it is possible to reliably detect the difference in the shape of the coin.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of transmitting side coils and a plurality of receiving side coils are provided, and the floor 7 of the coin passage is provided.
The height from 2 to one transmission side coil and the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to the other transmission side coils are different from each other, but instead of changing the heights of the transmission side coils from each other, In addition, the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to one receiving coil and the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to another receiving coil may be different from each other. Further, the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to one transmission side coil and the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to the other transmission side coils are made different from each other, and one reception from the floor 72 of the coin passage is performed. The height to the side coil and the height from the floor 72 of the coin passage to another receiving side coil may be different from each other.

[0039]

According to the present invention, coins of different materials can be sorted, and coins of almost the same material can be reliably sorted if their diameters are slightly different.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of a signal generation circuit 10 in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Signal generating circuit, 11 ... High frequency signal generating circuit, 12 ... Low frequency signal generating circuit, 20, 20u ... Sending side coil, 30, 30u ... Receiving side coil, 60 ... CPU.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A receiving side coil is provided at a position where a current having a predetermined frequency is passed through the transmitting side coil and receives an electromagnetic field component from the transmitting side coil through a coin passage. In a coin sensor for determining the type of coin according to data, a plurality of the transmitting side coils and the receiving side coils are respectively provided, and the height from the floor of the coin passage to the one transmitting side coil and the coin passage The height from the floor to the other coil on the transmitting side is different from each other. 2. A receiving side coil is provided at a position where an electric current having a predetermined frequency is passed through the transmitting side coil and receives an electromagnetic field component from the transmitting side coil through a coin passage. In a coin sensor for determining the type of coin according to data, a plurality of the transmitting side coils and the receiving side coils are respectively provided, and the height from the floor of the coin passage to the one receiving side coil and the coin passage The height from the floor to the other receiving side coil is different from each other. 3. A receiving side coil is provided at a position where a current having a predetermined frequency is passed through the transmitting side coil and receives an electromagnetic field component from the transmitting side coil through a coin passage, and the receiving coil receives the signal. In a coin sensor for determining the type of coin according to data, a plurality of the transmitting side coils and the receiving side coils are respectively provided, and the height from the floor of the coin passage to the one transmitting side coil and the coin passage From the floor of the coin passage to one of the receiving coils and from the floor of the coin passage to one of the receiving coils. A coin sensor having different heights. 4. The transmission coil according to claim 1, wherein two transmission side coils are provided, and whether these two transmission side coils are at the same position with respect to the moving direction of the coin. , Or coin sensors installed at different positions. 5. The coil according to claim 1, wherein the two receiving side coils are provided, and whether these two transmitting side coils are at the same position with respect to the moving direction of the coin. , Or coin sensors installed at different positions. 6. The coin according to claim 1, wherein two transmission side coils are provided, and a core of the transmission side coil provided at a position higher than a floor of the coin passage is the coin. A coin sensor, which is shorter than the core of the above-mentioned transmitting side coil provided at a position lower than the floor of the passage. 7. The coin sensor according to claim 1, wherein three coils on the transmitting side are provided.