JPH06101053B2 - Coin sorter - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorting device used for a vending machine, a money changing machine, a service device, etc., and particularly an electronic coin for electronically discriminating a type of coin. Regarding the improvement of the sorting device

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a coin sorting device mechanically sorts coins by mechanically checking the properties of the coins, and a coin sorting device that electronically detects the properties of the coins and detects the coins based on the detected output. An electronic coin sorting device for sorting is known.

Here, the use range of the electronic type coin sorting device is expanded because of its good sorting accuracy and its miniaturization.

The general structure of an electronic coin sorting device is that an oscillating coil excited by a signal of a predetermined frequency is arranged on one side of a coin passage and a receiving coil electromagnetically coupled to the oscillating coil on the other side. It is also possible to dispose a coil, determine the authenticity and type of the coin based on the output of the receiving coil generated when the coin passes, and sort the coin based on the determination result.

That is, it is noted that the peak value of the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil when a coin is passing differs depending on each coin A, B, C, D as shown in FIG. The permissible range (window) is determined in advance for each sorted coin (see FIG. 11), and the coin authenticity and type are determined depending on whether the peak value of the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil falls within the permissible range. Is made.

However, according to the above configuration, in the case of a coin having a large peak value of the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil, since the envelope waveform crosses the allowable range (window) of other coins, the true coin determination signal is generated for each coin. Will occur.

That is, in the case of a coin having a large peak value of the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil, a plurality of true coin determination signals are generated for one coin insertion.

Therefore, conventionally, a peak value detection circuit for detecting that the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil has reached the peak value is provided, and the peak signal (first
(See Fig. 12), the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil is determined.

(Problems of the prior art) However, here, the peak value detection circuit is a circuit that sequentially stores the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil, a circuit that detects that the envelope waveform is inverted from attenuation and starts rising. However, there is a problem in that the entire circuit configuration is very complicated due to the peak value detection circuit.

In addition, since the peak signal output from the peak value detection circuit is a discontinuous signal that occurs only at the peak of the envelope waveform of the signal generated in the receiving coil, noise equivalent to this peak signal is generated at times other than this peak of the envelope waveform. If it occurs, there is a problem that it malfunctions due to this noise.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorter having a simple structure with few malfunctions.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the coin sorting device of the present invention is
An oscillation coil disposed in the coin passage and excited by a signal of a predetermined frequency, a reception coil disposed across the coin passage and facing the oscillation coil, and an output signal of the reception coil is detected. A detection amplification circuit that outputs an envelope signal of the output signal by amplification and a different window corresponding to the type of coin are set, and rises when the envelope signal enters the window and exits from the window. A plurality of window circuits each generating a pulse signal that sometimes falls and a pulse signal output from the plurality of window circuits are respectively input, and when the pulse width of the pulse signal exceeds a predetermined pulse width, each signal is output. And a plurality of timer circuits for determining whether the coin is authentic or false based on the output of the mimmer circuit.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the authenticity and type of the coin are determined based on the output of the timer circuit. For example, when the detected coin is a true coin, the envelope signal output from the detection amplification circuit gradually decreases as the coin passes, and a preset peak value corresponding to the detected coin, that is, an allowable range. After reaching (window), it rises again and returns to the original level.
Here, the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the window circuit differs depending on whether the peak value of the envelope signal reaches the allowable range (window) or simply crossing another window.
Therefore, in the present invention, the pulse width of the pulse signal is monitored by the timer circuit, and the authenticity and the type of the detected coin are discriminated based on the output of the timer circuit. That is, the authenticity of the detected coin can be determined by whether or not the signal is output from the timer circuit, and the type of the detected coin can be determined by the window circuit corresponding to the timer circuit from which the signal is output.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the coin sorting device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an oscillating coil 4 excited by an output of an oscillator 3 is arranged on one side of a coin passage 1. Here, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 3 varies depending on the property of interest (material, shape, etc.) with respect to the coin 2 to be detected.

A receiving coil 5 is arranged on the other side of the coin passage 1 so as to face the oscillation coil 4. In this embodiment, the coin 2 is output based on the envelope signal of the output signal of the receiving coil 5, that is, the output signal of the receiving coil 5, which is generated when the coin 2 passes through the arrangement portion of the oscillation passage 4 and the receiving coil 5 of the coin passage 1. The authenticity and the type are discriminated.

The output signal of the reception coil 5 is detected and amplified by the detection amplification circuit 6, and the envelope signal of the output signal of the reception coil 5 is extracted. This envelope signal has window circuits 7, 8, 9,
Added to 10. A for each of the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10
An allowable range of peak values of envelope signals corresponding to coins, B coins, C coins, and D coins, that is, windows are set, and window circuits 7, 8, 9, and 10 are envelope signals output from the detection amplification circuit 6. Generates a pulse signal that rises when it enters the window and falls when it exits the window. The window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 can be configured by known window comparators.

The pulses output from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 are applied to the timer circuits 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively.

The timer circuits 11, 12, 13, and 14 start timing operation when the input pulse rises, and set the timer time respectively.
If the pulse signal does not fall even after the passage of T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , and T ₄ , a high level signal is output.

Here, when a high-level signal is output from the timer circuit 11 as the coin 2 passes through the arrangement portion of the oscillation coil 4 and the receiving coil 5, it is determined that the coin is an A coin, and the timer circuit 12 outputs the high-level signal. When the signal is output, it is determined to be a B coin, when the timer circuit 13 outputs a high level signal, it is determined to be a C coin, and when the timer circuit 14 outputs a high level signal, it is determined to be a D coin. .

If no high-level signal is output from any of the timer circuits 11, 12, 13, and 14, the coin 2 is determined to be a fake coin in this case.

2 to 5 show envelope signals output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 as genuine coin A, coin B, coin C, and coin D pass through the arrangement part of the oscillation coil 4 and the reception coil 5, respectively. The output pulses of the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 are shown. 2 to 5, windows A, B, C and D are A coins, B coins, C coins,
The allowable range of the peak value of the envelope signal corresponding to the D coin is shown. Moreover, FIG. 2 (b) (c) (d) (e), FIG.
Figures (b) (c) (d) (e) and Figures 4 (b) (c)
(D) (e) and FIGS. 5 (b) (c) (d) (e) show the output pulses of the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively.

First, in the case of A coin, as shown in FIG. 2, the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 is attenuated to the window A, and then returns to the original level even if it rises. That is, in this case, the envelope signal output from the detection amplification circuit 6 does not cross the windows B, C, and D corresponding to other coins at all, so that only one pulse is output from the window circuit 7.

Since the pulse width of the output pulse of the window circuit 7 in this case is larger than the set pulse width T ₁ of the timer circuit 11,
Only 11 will output a high level signal.

In the case of a B coin, as shown in FIG.
Output decays to window B and then rises back to its original level. Here, the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 crosses the window A once when it attenuates and when it rises.

In this case, since the pulse width of the output pulse of the window circuit 7 is smaller than the set pulse width T _{1 of the} timer circuit 11, no high level signal is generated from the timer circuit 11.

However, since the pulse width of the pulse output from the window circuit 8 becomes larger than the set pulse width T _{2 of} the timer circuit 12, a high level signal is generated from the timer circuit 12. Eventually, the high-level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 12.

In the case of C coin, as shown in FIG.
Output decays to window C and then rises back to its original level. Here, the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 crosses the windows A and B when it attenuates, and crosses the windows A and B again when it rises.

In this case, since the pulse widths of the output pulses of the window circuits 7 and 8 are both smaller than the set pulse widths T ₁ and T _{2 of} the timer circuits 11 and 12, high-level signals are generated from the timer circuits 11 and 12. Absent.

However, since the pulse width of the pulse output from the window circuit 9 is larger than the set pulse width T _{3 of} the timer circuit 13, a high level signal is generated from the timer circuit 13. Eventually, the high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 13.

Further, in the case of a D coin, as shown in FIG. 5, the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 is attenuated to the window D and then returns to the original level. Here, the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 crosses the windows A, B, and C when it attenuates, and crosses the windows A, B, and C again when it rises.

In this case, the pulse widths of the output pulses of the window circuits 7, 8 and 9 are all set pulse widths T ₁ , T _{2 of} the timer circuits 11, 12 and 13,
Since it is smaller than T _3, no high level signal is generated from the timer circuits 11, 12 and 13.

However, since the pulse width of the pulse output from the window circuit 10 becomes larger than the set pulse width T _{4 of} the timer circuit 14, a high level signal is generated from the timer circuit 14. Eventually, the high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 14.

Thus, when the coin passing through the coin passage 1 is the coin A, a high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 11,
In the case of a coin, a high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 12, in the case of a C coin, a high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 13, and in the case of a D coin, a high level signal is generated only from the timer circuit 14.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the coin 2 passing through the coin passage 1 is a false coin. If the coin 2 passing through the coin passage 1 is a false coin, the peak value of the output of the detection amplification circuit 6 is the window A,
Neither B, C nor D can be entered. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the output of the detection amplification circuit 6 returns to the original level when it crosses the windows A and B. In this case, the pulse widths of the pulses output from the window circuits 7 and 8 are the timer circuits 11 and 12, respectively.
The pulse width becomes smaller than the set pulse widths T ₁ and T _{2 of} , and eventually, no high level signal is generated from any of the timer circuits.

In this way, when the coin passing through the coin passage 1 is a false coin, no high-level signal is generated from any of the timer circuits 11, 12, 13, and 14.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the timer circuit 11,
Although the set times of 12, 13, and 14 are set separately as T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , and T ₄ , respectively, they may be set to the same value.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the window circuit 7,
The parts of 8, 9, 10 and the timer circuits 11, 12, 13, 14 are each configured by using discrete parts. However, part or all of these parts are replaced with a central processing unit (CPU), and the You may make it have the same function as a component.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment constructed in this way. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the timer circuits 11, 12, 13, 14 shown in FIG. Replaced by CPU15, and this CPU15 causes the above timer circuits 11, 12, 13, 1
It is configured to perform the same function as 4.

Further, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has a configuration in which the output of the detection / amplification circuit 6 shown in FIG. 1 is converted into a digital signal by the analog-digital converter 16 and added to the CPU 17. In this embodiment, the CPU 17 By the timer circuit 1 shown in FIG.
Not only the function of 1, 12, 13, 14 but also the window circuit 7, 8, 9, 1
It is configured to perform the function of 0 as well.

In the above embodiment, the coins to be sorted are A coins, B coins,
There are four denominations of C coin and D coin, but the number of denominations is arbitrary.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the window circuits 7, 8, 9,
The outputs of 10 are separately input to the CPU 15, but even if the windows corresponding to two coins (windows A and B in FIG. 9) overlap each other as shown in FIG. This is because the pulse from the window circuit can be accurately identified. If the windows of the coins do not overlap with each other as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the outputs of the determination circuits may be commonly connected. .

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coin sorting device with few malfunctions, and it is possible to greatly simplify the configuration by eliminating the need for a peak value detection circuit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 6 are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another embodiment, FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, and FIGS. 10 to 12 are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the conventional device. Is. 1 ... coin passage, 2 ... coins, 3 ... oscillator, 4 ... oscillation coil, 5 ... reception coil, 6 ... detection amplification circuit, 7,
8,9,10 …… Window circuit, 11,12,13,14 …… Timer circuit, 1
5, 17 ... CPU, 16 ... A / D converter.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Osamu Kobayashi 25-22-22 Gomigaya, Tsurugashima-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama Prefecture (56) References JP-A-58-20281 (JP, A) JP-A-51-2498 (JP) , A) Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-6985 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An oscillating coil disposed in a coin passage and excited by a signal of a predetermined frequency; a receiving coil disposed across the coin passage and facing the oscillating coil; By detecting and amplifying the output signal of
A detection / amplification circuit that outputs an envelope signal of the output signal and a different window corresponding to the type of coin are set, and the pulse rises when the envelope signal enters the window and falls when the envelope signal exits the window. A plurality of window circuits that respectively generate signals, and a plurality of timer circuits that respectively input the pulse signals output from the plurality of window circuits and output the signals when the pulse width of the pulse signals exceeds a predetermined pulse width And a coin sorting device which determines whether the coin is authentic or false based on the output of the mimmer circuit.