JPH08153232A - Coin identifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To sufficiently secure the accepting rate of normal coins without being influenced by the deterioration or the like of a coin measuring sensor with the lapse of time and to simplify the work such as setting for securing an optimum measuring state. CONSTITUTION: Coin measuring means S1 to S3 measure the characteristics of a charged coin and output coin characteristic data to a comparing means. A memory means 22 stores coin identifying reference data. The comparing means compares the inputted coin characteristic data with coin identifying reference data corresponding to the characteristic data which are read out from the means 22 and outputs the compared result data to a display means 25. The means 25 displays the compared result base on comparing data. Consequently, the measuring state of the coin characteristic data can easily be grasped from the display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a currency identification device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a currency identification device which is used in a vending machine or the like and identifies whether or not the inserted currency is proper currency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of a currency identifying device, there is a coin identifying device used in a vending machine.

This coin discriminating apparatus measures the characteristics of a coin such as material, thickness, diameter, etc. by a coin measuring sensor, compares it with a reference characteristic stored in a memory in advance, and collates it to confirm that the coin to be discriminated is authentic. Identify whether it is a coin, classify coins according to the identification result, and output a control signal to cause the vending machine body to perform a corresponding process (commercial item sale or coin return). Has become.

By the way, in recent years, various foreign coins have been brought into the country, and there are coins having characteristics almost similar to those of regular coins in Japan, and such illegal coins are used as coins. The identification device may mistakenly identify a genuine coin.

[0005]

In order to deal with such a situation, it is conceivable to narrow the identification range for identifying a genuine coin. However, on the contrary, this leads to a reduction in the acceptance rate of regular coins, which causes rejection of worn or soiled coins as regular coins.

Therefore, in the conventional coin discriminating apparatus, the user or the service person switches the external setting switch to set the coin discriminating accuracy. However, the coin discriminating device is actually set based on the inserted state of the coin. Since the setting is not performed, the optimum setting is not always performed, and there is a problem in that setting takes time and effort.

Further, various coin measuring sensors for measuring coins for identifying coins, like ordinary sensors,
There has been a problem that the measurement accuracy changes due to the change over time, which in turn changes the identification accuracy.

The above problems are not limited to the coin identification device,
The same applies to the bill validator that identifies bills.

An object of the present invention is to set a setting for ensuring a sufficient acceptance rate of regular coins (coins and banknotes) without being affected by the change over time of the currency measurement sensor and ensuring an optimum measurement state. An object of the present invention is to provide a currency identification device that can simplify the adjustment work.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a currency measuring means for measuring the characteristics of the inserted money and outputting the currency characteristic data, and currency identification reference data. Storage means for storing the money characteristic data, comparing means for comparing the currency characteristic data with the currency identification reference data corresponding to the currency characteristic data, and outputting the comparison result data, and displaying the comparison result based on the comparison data. And a display means.

The invention according to a second aspect comprises the currency identifying apparatus according to the first aspect, and further comprises display control means for prohibiting or permitting the display of the comparison result on the display means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the currency measuring means for outputting the currency characteristic data, the first storing means for storing the currency identification reference data in advance, the characteristic of the inserted currency are measured, and the currency characteristic data is obtained. And the currency identification reference data corresponding to the currency characteristic data and outputs the comparison result data, the second storage means for storing the comparison result data, and the second storage means. Data updating means for updating the currency identification reference data based on the currency characteristic data.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the currency measuring means measures the characteristics of the inserted money and outputs the currency characteristic data to the comparing means. The storage means stores the currency identification reference data. The comparison means compares the input currency characteristic data with the currency identification reference data corresponding to the currency characteristic data read from the storage means, and outputs the comparison result data to the display means. The display means displays the comparison result based on the comparison data. With this display, the measurement state of the currency characteristic data can be easily grasped.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the invention, the display control means prohibits or permits the display on the display means. The display can be made only when it is desired to grasp.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first storage means stores the currency identification reference data in advance. The currency measuring means measures the characteristics of the inserted money and outputs the currency characteristic data to the comparing means, and the comparing means corresponds to the input currency characteristic data and the currency characteristic data read from the first storage means. And the comparison result data is output to the second storage means. The second storage means stores the input comparison result data. The data updating means updates the currency identification reference data in the first storage means based on the currency characteristic data stored in the second storage means. Therefore, currency identification can be performed in consideration of the change over time of the currency measurement means, and optimal currency identification can always be performed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a coin identifying device as an example of a currency identifying device.

The coin discriminating apparatus 1 comprises a coin insertion slot 2 for inserting a coin, a coin passage 3 communicating with the coin insertion slot 2 for guiding the inserted coin, and a part of the coin passage 3. A coin rail 4 for guiding a coin to the vicinity of a coin measuring sensor, which will be described later, and a side wall 8 forming a coin passage 3, which outputs a first coin characteristic signal SS ₁ corresponding to the material of the inserted coin. 1 characteristic sensor S ₁ , 2nd characteristic sensor S ₂ which outputs the 2nd coin characteristic signal SS ₂ corresponding to the board thickness of the inserted coin, and 3rd coin characteristic signal SS corresponding to the diameter of the inserted coin ₃ and the third characteristic sensor S ₃ for outputting a first sorting gate 7 for receiving or returning based the introduced coins to the control signal from the later identification device,
A return passage 11 that communicates with the coin passage 3 when returning coins,
The first characteristic data to third characteristic signal SS ₁ the inserted coins is normal coin based on ~ SS ₃ when it is identified (hereinafter, referred to. Specie) and guides the coins into the coin pipe section below A true coin passage 9, a second distribution gate 10 for distributing coins introduced by the true coin passage 9 for each denomination, and a coin pipe section for holding the coins distributed by the second distribution gate 10 for each denomination 12 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the control system of the coin discriminating apparatus 1.

The control system 20 of the coin discriminating apparatus 1 is connected to the _first to third characteristic sensors S _{1 to} S _{3 and} receives the input first characteristic signal SS _{1 to} third characteristic signal SS ₃ as first characteristic data. A data converter 21 for converting and outputting D _{1 to} third characteristic data D _3; a memory 22 for storing various coin identification reference data and temporarily storing various data;
A passage switching unit 23 that performs control for switching a coin passage according to an identification result, an external interface unit 24 that performs an interface operation with an external device such as a vending machine body, and a display for displaying various types of information. 25, a timer unit 26 for performing timer control by setting various times, a level determination result display switch 27 for designating whether or not to display the level determination result, and a control for controlling the entire control system 20. And a part 28.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a data storage state in the memory 22.

The storage area of the memory 22 is roughly classified into a reference data storage area A for storing reference data for coin identification.
R ₁ , a temporary storage area AR ₂ for temporarily storing the input characteristic data, identification result data, etc., a level determination data storage area AR ₃ for storing level determination data for classifying the identification result data, and level-based coins It has a count data storage area AR ₄ for storing the count data.

In the reference data storage area AR ₁ , the characteristic determination reference data K1 obtained by previously measuring the coin characteristics (material, plate thickness, diameter) of various coins, and the inserted coins are accepted as genuine coins. Upper limit value data Z
U, the lower limit value data ZL of the characteristic when the inserted coin is accepted as a true coin, the lower limit setting data Mn that sets the lower limit of the range where the reference data K1 for characteristic determination is not updated, and the range where the reference data K1 for characteristic determination is not updated The upper limit limit setting data Mx that sets the upper limit of is stored.

[0024] in the temporary storage area AR _2, by comparing the measurement data Z1, the characteristic data D ₁ to D ₃ and the characteristic judgment reference data K1 corresponding to the characteristic data D ₁ to D ₃ of the inserted coins Stored are the obtained measurement result data ZK, acceptance acceptability flag data KF indicating acceptability of inserted coins, and acceptance number count data CT that counts the total number of inserted coins.

The level determination data storage area AR ₃ stores level determination data LZ1 to LZn for converting the measurement result data ZK into data for displaying the level determination result. The count data storage area AR ₄ stores level-specific count data LC (mn) to LC (m + n) obtained by classifying the measurement result data ZK for each level and counting the number of coins for each level. To be done.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, for simplification of the description, only the processing on the material of the coin will be described.

When the power is turned on, as shown in FIG.
First, self-diagnosis is performed (step S1), and it is automatically determined whether or not there is any abnormality. If an abnormality is detected, a predetermined error operation is performed.

If no abnormality is detected, it is determined whether or not money has been inserted (step S2).

When money is input (step S
2; Yes), the currency characteristic data is detected (step S3).

More specifically, when a coin is inserted from the coin slot 2, the coin is guided to the vicinity of the first characteristic sensor S ₁ by the coin rail 4 forming a part of the coin passage 3.

As a result, the first characteristic sensor S ₁ measures the inserted coin and outputs the first coin characteristic signal corresponding to the material of the inserted coin to the data converter 21.

The data conversion section 21 receives the first characteristic signal SS ₁
Is converted into the first characteristic data D ₁ = Z1 and output to the control unit 28.

As a result, the control section 28 stores the first characteristic data D ₁ = Z1 in the temporary storage area AR ₂ .

When the currency characteristic data is detected (step S3),
When finished, the control unit 28 performs a currency identification process.
(Step S4) More specifically, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 is a reference data storage area AR of the memory 22.₁From characteristics
The reference data K1 for determination is read out, ZK = Z1-K1 is calculated (step S21), and the measurement result data ZK
As a temporary storage area AR ₂Remember.

Next, it is determined whether or not the measurement result data ZK = 0 (step S22). If the measurement result data ZK = 0, the process proceeds to step S25.

When the measurement result data ZK is not 0, it is judged whether or not the measurement result data ZK is larger than the upper limit value data ZU of the material characteristic when the inserted coin is accepted as a true coin (step S23). .

If the measurement result data ZK is larger than the upper limit value data ZU of the material characteristics when the inserted coin is a true coin, that is, if ZK> ZU, the coin cannot be accepted as a true coin. Acceptability flag data KF = 0 (step S
26), the identification process ends.

Further, when the coin into which the measurement result data ZK is input is accepted as a true coin, the measurement result data ZK is input when the material characteristic upper limit value ZU or less, that is, when ZK ≦ ZU. It is determined whether or not the value is smaller than the lower limit value data ZL of the material characteristic when the coin is accepted as a true coin (step S24).

When the measurement result data ZK is smaller than the lower limit data ZL of the material characteristics when the coin is accepted as a true coin, that is, when ZK <ZU, the coin is not accepted as a true coin. Acceptability flag data KF = 0 (step S
26) and end the currency identification process.

When the coin having the measurement result data ZK is accepted as a genuine coin, the coin having the lower limit value data ZL of the material characteristics or more, that is, when ZK ≧ ZL, is used. Acceptability flag data KF as what is accepted as genuine
= 1 (step S25), and the currency identification process is terminated.

When the currency identification process (step S4) is completed, the control section 28 performs a level determination process (step S5).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the level of the measurement result data ZK is determined by comparing the measurement result data ZK with each of the level determination data LZ1 to LKn in the level determination data storage area AR _3. (Step S2
7, 28). For example, when the measurement result data ZK = level determination data LZ3, it is determined that level = 3.

Next, whether to output the level determination result is determined based on the state of the level determination result display switch 27 or the operation mode (for example, the inspection mode) (step S6).

In the determination of step S6, if the level determination result is not output, the process proceeds to step S8.

In the case of outputting the level determination result in the determination of step S6, the control unit 28 converts the level determination result into display data and displays the level determination result on the display 25 in a predetermined system such as numbers or alphabets. It is displayed (step S7). As a result, a service person or a vending machine installer can easily understand the discrimination state of coins, and it is possible to know whether or not the discrimination range of the first characteristic sensor S _{1 has} changed due to changes over time.

Next, the control unit 28 determines whether or not money can be accepted based on the acceptability flag data KF (step S8).

When the money can be accepted, that is, when the acceptability flag data KF = 1, the acceptance process is performed (step S9).

More specifically, the control unit 28 is
By controlling the first sorting gate 7 via the passage switching unit 23, the coin passage 3 is communicated with the true coin passage 9, and the second passage gate 23 is further connected.
The coins introduced by the sorting gate 10 through the true coin passage 9 are sorted by denomination and held in the coin pipe portion 12 by denomination.

When the money cannot be accepted, that is, when the acceptability flag data KF = 0, the return process is performed.

More specifically, the control section 28 controls the first sorting gate 7 through the passage switching section 23 to communicate the return passage 11 with the coin passage 3 and return the inserted coin.

Then, the control unit 28, when accepting the money, performs the level statistical processing (step S1).
0), data correction processing is performed as necessary (step S1)
1). If the coin is not accepted, it will be in a standby state.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the acceptability flag data KF = 1 (step S31).

If the acceptance flag data KF = 0 in the determination in step S31, that is, if the money cannot be accepted, the process is terminated and the standby state is entered.

When the acceptance flag data KF = 1 in the determination in step S31, that is, when the money can be accepted, 1 is added to the accepted sheet count data CT (step S32), and the measurement result data ZK. The level (value) of is determined (step S33). Levels of the measurement result data ZK are classified into 2n ways from -n to + n, and count data [LC (mn) to LC (m + n) according to the corresponding level (any of -n to + n) among them. )] Is incremented by 1 (step S34). For example, when the measurement result data ZK = -1, the count data for each level is incremented by +1 as LCK (m-1) +1.

Subsequently, the control section 28 determines whether or not the received number count data CT has reached a preset predetermined number P (step S35), and the received number count data CT has not reached the predetermined number. in case of,
The process ends.

If it is determined in step S35 that the received number-of-sheets count data CT has reached the predetermined number, all the level-specific count data LC (mn) to LC
Based on (m + n), the average value Lχ of the measurement result data ZK
Is calculated by the equation (1) (step S36).

Lχ = TZK / P (1) where TZK is the sum of the measurement result data ZK,
It is expressed by equation (2).

TZK = {-n.LC (mn)} + {(-n + 1) .LC (m-n + 1)} + ... + {(n-1) .LC (m + n-1)} + {N · LC (m + n)} (2) Next, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the average value Lχ of the measurement result data ZK satisfies the relationship of Mn ≦ Lχ ≦ Mx, that is, the measurement result data. It is determined whether or not the average value Lχ of ZK is within the range in which the characteristic determination reference data K1 is not updated (step S37).

In the determination of step S37, if the average value Lχ of the measurement result data ZK is within the range where the characteristic determination reference data K1 is not updated, the received sheet count data CT is set to 0 (step S38). The count data LC (mn) to LC (m + n) for each level are initialized (step S39), and the process is terminated.

In the determination of step S37, when the average value Lχ of the measurement result data ZK is a value for updating the characteristic determination reference data K1, the characteristic determination reference data K is obtained.
1 is updated to K1 + Lχ using the average value Lχ (step S40).

In the above description, only the material has been described as the characteristic of currency, but it is possible to identify and correct other characteristics in the same manner.

Further, although the above description has been made only for the coin discriminating device, it can be similarly applied to a bill discriminating device for discriminating bills.

According to the present embodiment, with the above-described structure, the time-dependent change state of the _first to third characteristic sensors S _{1 to} S ₃ (degradation state of identification performance) is automatically or level-determined. By manually switching the result display switch 27, the result can be displayed on the display unit 25, and quick response can be made.

Further, the deviation can be automatically corrected in accordance with the time-dependent change state of the _first to third characteristic sensors S _{1 to} S ₃ , so that optimal currency discrimination can always be performed. .

[0065]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the comparison means compares the input currency characteristic data with the currency identification reference data corresponding to the currency characteristic data read from the storage means and compares the comparison result data. Is output to the display means, and the display means displays the comparison result based on the comparison data, so that the measurement state of the currency characteristic data can be easily grasped based on the displayed comparison result. The identification state can be easily adjusted.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the display control means can prohibit or permit the display on the display means. The display can be made only when it is desired to grasp the measurement state.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the comparing means compares the inputted currency characteristic data with the currency identification reference data corresponding to the currency characteristic data read from the first storing means and compares them. The result data is output to and stored in the second storage means, and the data update means updates the currency identification reference data in the first storage means based on the currency characteristic data stored in the second storage means. Currency can be identified in consideration of changes over time, and optimal currency identification can always be performed, ensuring a proper acceptance rate of regular money without being affected by changes over time of the currency measurement sensor, and making optimal measurements. It is possible to simplify the trouble of setting and adjustment for ensuring the state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a coin identifying device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a control system of the coin identifying device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a data storage state in a memory.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (No. 1) of operation processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 2) of operation processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (No. 3) of operation processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operational processing flowchart (4) of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 coin identification device 2 coin slot 3 coin passage 4 coin rail 5 8 side wall 7 first sorting gate 7 9 true passage 10 second sorting gate 11 return passage 12 coin pipe 20 control system 21 data converter 22 memory 23 Passage switching unit 24 External interface unit 25 Display unit 26 Timer unit 27 Level judgment result display switch 28 Control unit AR ₁ Reference data storage area AR ₂ Temporary storage area AR ₃ Level determination data storage area AR ₄ Count data storage area S ₁ No. 1 characteristic sensor S ₂ 2nd characteristic sensor S ₃ 3rd characteristic sensor SS ₁ 1st coin characteristic signal SS ₂ 2nd coin characteristic signal SS ₃ 3rd coin characteristic signal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A currency measuring means for measuring characteristics of inserted money and outputting currency characteristic data, a storage means for storing currency identification reference data, the currency characteristic data and the currency characteristic data corresponding to the currency characteristic data. A currency identification device comprising: a comparison unit that compares the currency identification reference data and outputs comparison result data; and a display unit that displays the comparison result based on the comparison data. 2. The currency identifying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for prohibiting or permitting display of the comparison result on the display means. 3. A currency measuring means for measuring the characteristics of the inserted money and outputting the currency characteristic data, a first storage means for storing the currency identification reference data in advance, the currency characteristic data and the currency characteristic data. On the basis of the comparison result data stored in the second storage means, the comparison means for comparing the corresponding currency identification reference data and outputting the comparison result data, the second storage means for storing the comparison result data And a data updating unit that updates the currency identification reference data.