JPH0551949B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is directed to a coin verification device that makes it possible to quickly diagnose the presence or absence of an abnormality in an electronic coin verification device used in a vending machine or the like. The present invention relates to a diagnostic output device for a coin device.

(Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Vending machines and the like are usually installed both outdoors and indoors, and are often used frequently.
Due to such a usage environment, the coin authenticity determination function of the coin verification device often becomes distorted, so maintenance and inspection management of the coin verification device is required at all times.

A coin verification device, which is a device that determines the authenticity of coins inserted into a vending machine, is configured as shown in FIG. and a digital waveform discrimination circuit (LSI) 3, which determines the authenticity of the coin based on the effect it has on the AC waveform of the AC signal source 6 generated when the coin 4 passes through the coil 5 installed along the coin path. The judgment is based on this. Each impedance of the AC impedance bridge circuit 1 is adjusted so that the output of the AC impedance bridge circuit 1 is minimum (balanced) when the master coin (positive coin) is located at the center of the coil 5 of the AC impedance bridge circuit 1. If is selected appropriately, the output generated by the passage of a coin will draw a V-shaped voltage curve due to the inherent characteristics of the bridge circuit. The V-shaped voltage curve varies depending on the denomination. The bottom of the V-shape means the equilibrium point of the bridge circuit described above, and corresponds to when the coin is at the center of the coil axis.

If the coin is a counterfeit coin, the V-shape may undergo some deformation, for example, becoming a W-shaped curve. The authenticity of a coin is determined by comparing it with a reference voltage 7 based on the differences in voltage curves as well as the gate signal 8 that informs the coin position. The coin verification is performed through the process described above, and the conclusion as to whether the coin is genuine or false is output from the digital waveform discrimination circuit 3.

In this way, the authenticity determination is made based on the output waveform from the AC impedance bridge circuit 1, the reference voltage, and the coin position.

The authenticity of coins can be judged strictly or somewhat less strictly through adjustment means, but if it is too strict, the original coin itself may be physically damaged due to the year of issue or damage caused by circulation. Since there are variations in the physical or electrical properties, the coin acceptance rate of the detection device is significantly reduced.

Therefore, it is required to ensure a reasonable coin acceptance rate relative to genuine coins and to be able to exclude fake coins. For this reason, it is necessary that the adjustment and its maintenance be constant, but in reality, it is caused by natural deviations or changes due to deterioration of the coin validation device over time or vibrations of the movable parts or adjustment means. It is not easy to maintain such a correct state over a long period of time. Therefore, in the past, when coins were no longer accepted or the acceptance rate decreased, the coin validation device inside the vending machine was taken back to a place where it could be maintained and the AC impedance was measured using equipment such as an oscilloscope.
The maintenance work is carried out by inspecting the waveforms of circuits such as bridge circuits, or by transporting equipment such as oscilloscopes to the site (where the vending machine is installed) and inspecting the waveforms of each circuit. It was extremely inefficient, and it took a lot of time and labor to understand and deal with the situation with the coin validation device.

The diagnostic output device of the coin verification device of the present invention was made to solve the above problems, and it can easily and quickly correct the deviation (deviation) of the coin verification function in order to bring the coin verification device into a normal state. It is designed so that it can be detected.

(Means for Simplifying the Problems) To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an AC impedance bridge circuit in which an applied AC waveform is influenced by a passing coin, and a A diagnostic output device for diagnosing a coin authenticity determination function in a coin validation device, comprising a comparator to which an output and a reference voltage are input, and a digital waveform discrimination circuit receiving the output of the comparator, a detachable bridge circuit output connection means that can be connected to the output of the AC impedance bridge circuit;
a detachable reference voltage output connection means that can be connected to the reference voltage output; a switching means that is connected to each of the connection means and switches each input; and an analog-to-digital converter that is connected to the switching means. , a dot printer that receives the output of the analog-to-digital converter, the output waveform and the reference voltage waveform drawn by the dot printer when a standard coin is inserted, and the output waveform of the AC impedance bridge circuit using the standard coin in a normal state in advance. It is constructed so that it can be compared with a standard gauge on which the figure is drawn.

(Function) When the master coin (reference coin) is inserted, each voltage data from the bridge circuit and the reference voltage circuit input via the bridge circuit output connection means and the reference voltage output connection means is individually changed by switching the switching means. The digital data is then sent to an analog-to-digital converter and can be printed out from a dot printer. Through the above operation, the printed waveform can be used as a standard voltage waveform gauge (standard gauge).
If there is no deviation or a very small deviation compared to the standard one, no adjustment is made.If the printout waveform shows a deviation compared to the standard one, the coin can be fixed by adjusting the bridge circuit, etc. It is possible to maintain the coin verification device in a regular state.

(Example) An example of a diagnostic output device for a coin validation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a coin verification device to be checked in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a diagnostic output device of the coin verification device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a coin verification device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a piece of paper on which a graph is printed, which is fed out from the diagnostic output device of the coin device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a reference gauge serving as a reference for comparison.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9 represents a connection means that is detachably connected to the output line of the AC impedance bridge circuit 1 of the coin validation device, and specifically, a clip is used, for example, and 10 is a similar connection means. However, these connection means are connected to the output line of the reference voltage 7. Reference numeral 11 denotes a single-pole double-throw type switching means for passing either the signal from the connecting means 9 or the signal from the connecting means 10 at a certain time, and is preferably formed of a digital circuit. 12 is an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal sent as described above into a digital signal. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control device for controlling the single-pole double-throw type switching means 11 and the analog-to-digital converter 12.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) that issues commands to the control device 13 and a printer control device to be described later, and is provided with a memory 15 as required. 16 is a control device that receives commands from the central processing unit 14 and performs control operations. 17 is a dot printer, more specifically, for example, a thermal dot printer. In this case, thermal paper is used as the paper; for example, the paper 18 has a third
The dot printer 1 is printed as shown in the figure.
7 will be printed out.

In the graph shown in FIG. 3, 19 indicates a reference voltage level, and 20 indicates a curve depicting the output from the AC impedance bridge circuit 1 versus time, and this curve differs depending on the denomination. As an example, Figure 3 shows the current currency of 100 yen.

In FIG. 4, 21 is a reference gauge plate;
The analog waveform from the AC impedance bridge circuit of the master coin (reference coin) is applied to this surface.

Next, a method of using the diagnostic output device of the coin validation device of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings. First, each connection means 9, 10 is connected to the output of the bridge circuit and the output of the reference voltage 7 of the coin validation device to be diagnosed.
and insert the master coin from the coin validation device slot. Next, since the output reference voltage 7 differs depending on the type of inserted coin, it is determined which coin has been inserted, and at the same time, the reference voltage level 19 in FIG.
and a dot printer 17 via a central processing unit 14 that issues commands to a printer control device, which will be described later.
is output by In addition, AC impedance
The analog voltage from the bridge circuit is converted by the analog-to-digital converter 12, and the curve 20 in FIG. 3 is illustrated and printed out by the dot printer 17 via the central processing unit 14. By superimposing the printed figure on the reference gauge plate 21 in FIG. 4 and comparing it with that figure, if there is no deviation or there is very little deviation, it can be determined that there is no abnormality in the coin validation device to be diagnosed. .
However, if the coin is still not accepted even if it is determined that there is no abnormality as a result of the pre-diagnosis, the coin verification device's comparator 2 or digital waveform discrimination circuit (LSI) 3
It can be determined that this is due to a defect. As described above, the condition of the coin validation device to be diagnosed can be diagnosed in a short time.

(Effects of the Invention) The diagnostic output device of the coin verification device of the present invention is configured as described above, and is operated for a certain period of time, such as a vending machine or the like having a built-in coin verification device as described above. It is very easy to check whether the device is normal or abnormal using the waveform printed out from this device. In addition, the paper with the waveform written on it can be saved and
It is convenient for management and useful for long-term maintenance of the coin verification device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a coin verification device to be checked in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a diagnostic output device of the coin verification device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a coin verification device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a piece of paper on which a graph is printed, which is fed out from the diagnostic output device of the coin device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a reference gauge serving as a reference for comparison. 9, 10... Connection means, 11... Switching means, 1
2...Analog-digital converter, 17...Dot printer, 21...Reference gauge.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An AC impedance bridge circuit in which the applied AC waveform is influenced by a passing coin, a comparator to which the output of this circuit and a reference voltage are input, and a digital circuit that receives the output of the comparator. A diagnostic output device for diagnosing a coin authenticity determination function in a coin verification device comprising a waveform discrimination circuit, and a detachable bridge circuit output that can be connected to the output of the AC impedance bridge circuit. a connecting means, a detachable reference voltage output connecting means that can be connected to the reference voltage output, a switching means that is connected to each of the connecting means and switches each input, and an analog terminal connected to the switching means.
It is equipped with a digital converter and a dot printer that receives the output of the analog-to-digital converter and outputs a waveform, and outputs the output waveform and reference voltage waveform drawn by the dot printer by inserting a standard coin, and the standard coin in the normal state in advance. A diagnostic output device for a coin validation device, characterized in that the output device can be compared with a standard gauge on which the output waveform of an AC impedance bridge circuit is drawn.