JPH09161117A - Coin sorting and counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin sorting and counting device with which following sorting and counting processing can be efficiently performed and counting can be made sure even when the conveyance of coins is stopped by generating any conveyance defect on a coin carrier path during sorting and counting processing. SOLUTION: A detecting means 41 for detecting coins is provided between a reject part 13, with which coins can be rejected, provided on the downstream side of coin conveying direction rather than a detection part 22, with which a coin is detected and detection data for discriminating its denomination are detected, and a sorting hole 34 on the upper-most stream side among sorting holes arranged on the downstream side of coin conveying direction rather than this reject part 13. Each time the detecting means 41 detects the passage of coin, a control part fixes the denomination of this coin discriminated based on the detection data detected by the discrimination part 22, and the already stored count value showing the number of coins of this denomination is updated into a value, to which '1' is added, and stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorting / counting device for sorting / counting coins by denomination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-43670 discloses a coin sorting / counting device which separates inserted coins one by one and sorts and counts them by denomination. This coin sorting / counting device discriminates the denomination of coins fed to a coin transport path (coin sorting passage) and performs counting, and a coin type on the downstream side of the coin transport path in the transport direction. In addition, the sorting holes (sorting groove holes) provided in the order of decreasing diameter, and a passage sensor (magnetic sensor) provided near the upstream side of each sorting hole in the coin transporting direction and detecting the passage of the transported coins. Sensor), and the total value counted by the passage sensor on the downstream side from the count value counted by the discrimination unit for each money type and the count value counted by the passage sensor on the upstream side of the adjacent passage sensors. By comparing the count value of coins of each denomination obtained by subtracting the numerical value, the count value is checked and the presence / absence of misselection is determined.

[0003]

In the coin sorting and counting apparatus, when a conveyance failure such as a jam or a sorting failure occurs on the coin transport path during the processing, the processing is stopped and the coin transport is immediately stopped. However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when this conveyance is stopped during the sorting and counting process,
The coins on the coin transport path may stop before reaching the sorting hole corresponding to the denomination, or may not reach the sorting hole corresponding to the denomination and are provided according to the sorting holes of other denominations. Stops in a state where it is still detected by the passage sensor, or remains on the coin transport path without falling into the sorting hole while being detected by the passage sensor provided according to the sorting hole of the denomination. There are cases such as Therefore, when such a stop occurs, the detection result of each passage sensor becomes inaccurate, and the sorting and counting process cannot be continuously performed, and the sorting and counting process of all coins is performed again. There was a problem that had to be.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to efficiently carry out the subsequent sorting and counting process and to perform counting even if a transport failure occurs on the coin transport path during the sorting and counting process and the transport is stopped. It is to provide a coin sorting and counting device that can be made reliable.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is a coin transport path into which coins are separated and fed one by one, and a coin transport path for transporting coins on the coin transport path. Section, a detection section for detecting detection data for detecting coins on the coin transport path and determining denominations thereof, and a coin provided on the downstream side of the detection section of the coin transport path in the coin transport direction. And a reject unit that can be excluded from the coin transport path, and are arranged along the coin transport direction on the downstream side in the coin transport direction from the reject unit of the coin transport path, and select and drop coins of corresponding denominations. The sorting holes of each denomination, the passage sensor provided on the upstream side of each sorting hole for detecting coins, and the coins detected by the detection unit, whether or not they are circulating coins. If the coin is a circulating coin, the coin denomination is determined based on the detection data and, if the coin is not a circulating coin, a control unit that causes the reject unit to remove the coin from the coin transport path, Between the reject portion of the coin transport path and the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, a detection unit for detecting coins is provided, and the control unit detects the passage of coins by the detection unit. In addition, the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit is confirmed, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination that has been already stored is updated by 1 and stored. Is characterized by. Thereby, the control unit detects the detection data detected by the detection unit each time the detection unit provided between the reject unit of the coin transport path and the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction detects the passage of the coin. The denomination of the coin determined based on
The count value of the number of coins of the denomination that has already been stored is updated by 1 and stored. Therefore, if a conveyance failure occurs on the coin conveyance path during the sorting and counting process and the conveyance is stopped, the coins passing through the detection means have their denominations fixed and are counted. For coins that have been manually dropped into the corresponding sorting holes and have not passed the detection means, the denomination has not been determined and the counting has not been performed, so if the coins are sent back to the transport path, the counting will be incorrect. There is no need to redo the sorting and counting process for all coins.

The invention according to claim 2 relates to the invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the detecting means is a passage sensor provided upstream of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction. As a result, since the detection means can also serve as the passage sensor, it is not necessary to separately provide the detection means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A coin sorting and counting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This coin sorting / counting device is rotatably provided in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and stores a coin inserted through a deposit port (not shown) and discharges it by centrifugal force during rotation,
A coin transfer path (coin transfer path) 12 in which coins discharged from the rotating disk 11 are separated one by one and sent onto the transfer surface 12a, and a transfer surface 12a of the deposit transfer path 12 connected to the deposit transfer path 12 From which the coins are transferred to the transfer surface 13a, and sorting for connecting the reject gate 13 to transfer the coins from the transfer surface 13a of the reject gate 13 to the transfer surface 14a and sorting the coins by denomination The passage (coin transfer path) 14 and the transfer surfaces 12a, 1 of the deposit transfer path 12, the reject gate 13, and the sorting path 14 for transferring the coins sent from the rotating disk 11
Coin transport unit 15 that transports on 3a and 14a at a predetermined speed
(See FIG. 2) and a control unit 16 (see FIG. 2) that controls the operation of the coin sorting and counting apparatus. In addition, the upstream and the downstream in the following description are the upstream and the downstream in the coin transport direction.

The deposit transfer path 12 has a transfer surface 12 at the center.
a is arranged horizontally, and at both end edges of the conveying surface 12a, a raised wall portion 17 having vertical surfaces 17a opposed to each other is provided over the whole, and a tangent line of the rotating disk 11 is provided. After being arranged substantially along the direction, it has a shape in which the strong 90 ° direction is changed. On the transfer surface 12a of the deposit transfer path 12, the coins on the transfer surface 12a are detected and the authenticity of the coin (true is a distributed coin that is distributed in Japan, false is a non-distributed coin that is not distributed in Japan). Or non-coins), loss (correct is true and not deformed, loss is true and deformed), and detection data is detected to determine the denomination of the true coin Detection unit 22
Is provided.

The detection unit 22 is connected to the control unit 16 and is composed of a magnetic sensor 25 arranged on the rotating disk 11 side and a line sensor 26 on the opposite side. The magnetic sensor 25 detects the magnetic properties of coins carried on the depositing and carrying path 12 depending on the material. Although not shown, for example, a primary coil that forms a magnetic field when a high-frequency alternating current is applied. And a secondary coil in which a current is generated by the magnetic field. Then, the control unit 16 utilizes the fact that the current generated in the secondary coil when a coin approaches each other differs depending on the material of the coin, and detects the material, that is, the denomination when the coin is true or false, by the magnetic data of the current value. To do.

The line sensor 26 includes a plurality of light receiving elements (not shown) arranged at equal pitches orthogonal to the coin conveying direction of the deposit conveying path 12, and above the deposit conveying path 12 and facing the light receiving elements. When a coin on the depositing transfer path 12 is positioned vertically above the light receiving element, a part of the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided. Is blocked by the coin and the light-receiving element is in the non-light-receiving state, and thus the coin is detected by the light-receiving / non-light-receiving data of the light-receiving element. And the control unit 1
In 6, for example, from the time when all the light receiving elements are in the light receiving state until one of the light receiving elements is in the non light receiving state and all the light receiving elements are in the light receiving state again, the farthest at the same time, the light receiving elements are in the non light receiving state The outer diameter of the coin is detected from the distance between the light receiving elements. The magnetic data and the light-receiving / non-light-receiving data described above are the detection data of the detection unit 22.

Here, the line sensor 26, from the time when any one of the light receiving elements which were in the light receiving state becomes the non-light receiving state by the passage of one coin until the time when all the light receiving elements become the light receiving state again. In the time between
It is also used to calculate the transfer direction diameter data of the coin transfer direction by multiplying the predetermined transfer speed of 5. In order to detect this time, the coins on the transport path 12a are transported such that adjacent coins are transported at a predetermined interval, and although not shown, between the detection unit 22 and the rotary disk 11. Is provided with a conveyance pitch adjusting means for spacing the coins to be conveyed. In addition, the line sensor 26
Then, only the coin diameter in the direction orthogonal to the coin conveying direction is obtained, and apart from this, a line connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element is provided near the line sensor 26 along the conveying surface 12a and in the coin conveying direction. It is also possible to arrange the sensors so as to be orthogonal to each other and obtain the transfer direction diameter data of the transfer direction of the coin from the time when the sensor is in the non-light receiving state by the coin and the transfer speed of the coin transfer unit 15.

The magnetic sensor 25 and the line sensor 26 are provided close to each other, and for example, the timing when any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 detects a coin, that is, a line in which all the light receiving elements are in a light receiving state. When the magnetic data is taken in from the magnetic sensor 25 at the timing when any of the light receiving elements of the sensor 26 is in the non-light receiving state, the mutual interval is set so that the magnetic sensor 25 detects the magnetic data in the substantially center of the coin. . As a result, the line sensor 26 also serves as a timing sensor for detecting the magnetic sensor 25.

The reject gate 13 is provided with guides 21 that are higher than the other, on both side edges of the transport surface 13a, and is opened and closed according to the result determined by the controller based on the detection data of the detector 22. Transfer route for depositing coins 1
It can be eliminated without passing from 2 to the sorting passage 14. That is, the reject gate 13 is the control unit 1
By a solenoid (not shown) whose drive is controlled by 6, the transfer surface 13a is in a horizontal state, and the transfer surfaces 12a and 14a other than the reject gate 13 are in the same height and closed state.
It is switched to an open state in which one end side is swung so as to move downward. In the closed state, the coins are allowed to pass through as they are and sent to the sorting passage 14, and in the open state, the coins are transferred to the deposit conveying path 1
Drop to eliminate from 2. A storage box (not shown) is detachably provided below the reject gate 13, and the reject coin dropped by the reject gate 13 is inserted into the storage box.
The reject gate 13 and a solenoid (not shown) constitute a reject unit 27 (see FIG. 2).

The deposit conveying path 12 and the sorting path 14 include
In the vicinity of the reject gate 13, the transfer surfaces 12a, 14
Traveling sensors 28 and 29 for detecting coins on a are provided respectively. These traveling sensors 28, 29 are light receiving elements 28a, 2 arranged on one side in the radial direction of the coin.
9a and the line connecting the light receiving elements 28a and 29a is the transport surface 1
2a, 14a and light-emitting elements 28b, 29b arranged on the other side so as to be orthogonal to the coin transport direction. The traveling sensor 28 blocks the light emitted from the light-emitting element 28b by the coins and receives the light-receiving element 28a. When the traveling sensor 29 is in the non-light-receiving state, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 29b is blocked by the coin and the light-receiving element 29a is in the non-light-receiving state, so that the traveling sensor 29 detects each coin.

Next, the sorting passage 14 for sorting the deposited coins conveyed through the deposit conveying passage 12 by denomination will be described. The sorting passage 14 is arranged horizontally so that the central conveying surface 14a is located on the extension line of the depositing conveying passage 12 on the reject gate 13 side of the conveying surface 12a. , Vertical surfaces 31a, 32
A raised wall portion 31 and 32 with a facing each other is provided over the whole, and one wall portion 31 is a reference rail that guides the coin conveyed by the coin conveying portion 15 by contacting its peripheral portion. It is said to be 31. Then, on the transport surface 14a at a position slightly separated from the reference rail 31,
Sorting holes 34 to 39 of each denomination for sorting coins of corresponding denominations and dropping the coins from the transport surface 14a are arranged in the order of small diameter, that is, 1-yen coin, 50-yen coin, 5-yen coin, 100-yen coin.
Yen coins, 10-yen coins, and 500-yen coins are arranged at regular intervals in the coin transport direction so as to be dropped in this order.

Here, although not shown in the figure, the coin transporting section 15 has a plurality of endless belts arranged in parallel with the transporting surfaces 12a, 13a, 14a with a predetermined gap between the transporting surfaces 12a, 13a, 14a. The coin transfer unit 15 in the sorting passage 14 is spaced from the reference rail 31 in the coin transfer direction by pressing the coins between them from above and sliding the transfer surfaces 12a, 13a, 14a. The coins are arranged so as to be gradually narrowed so that the peripheral edge of the coin is brought into contact with the reference rail 31.

Then, the 1-yen coins selected and dropped by the selection hole 34 on the most upstream side of the selection passage 14 are sorted adjacent to the downstream side of the sorting hole 34 by a not-shown reflux type hopper for 1-yen coins. The 50-yen coins selected and dropped by the hole 35 are returned to the unillustrated reflux hopper for 50-yen coins, and the 5-yen coins selected and dropped by the selection hole 36 adjacent to the downstream side of the selection hole 35 are 5 yen. The 100-yen coin, which has been sorted and dropped by the sorting holes 37 adjacent to the sorting hole 36 on the downstream side of the sorting hole 36, into the reflux-type hopper for coins (not shown) The 10-yen coins selected and dropped by the adjacent selection holes 38 on the downstream side of 37 are returned to the unillustrated reflux hopper for 10-yen coins by the 500-yen coins selected and dropped by the most downstream selection hole 39. For 500 yen coins Reflux type hopper, not shown, are respectively sent.

Grooves 34a to 39a are provided in the sorting passages 14 at the upstream end positions of the sorting holes 34 to 39, respectively.
To 39, the light receiving elements 41a to 46a provided below the position of the transport surface 14a and the respective light receiving elements 41a to 46a are individually formed in the groove portions 34a to 39a. Transport surface 1 facing the
It consists of a light emitting element (not shown) provided above the position 4a, the light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the coins, and the light receiving elements 41a to 46a enter the non-light receiving state to pass the coins of each denomination. The sensors 41 to 46 are provided at positions avoiding the passing positions of the coin holes, and the sorting holes 34 to
The coins sorted and dropped in any one of 39 are detected by one of the passage sensors 41 to 46 provided on the upstream side with respect to one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 to be sorted,
You will be dropped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 16 includes a CPU 48 as a central processing unit thereof, magnetic data and diameter data of true and positive genuine coins, which are the reference for each denomination, and operation of the device. The ROM 49 stores data and the like, and the RAM 50 stores count values and the like of coins of each denomination.

Next, the contents of control of the coin sorting and counting device will be explained together with its operation. When an instruction is given by the operation of the operator to perform the sorting and counting process in the state where coins are put in the rotary disc 11, the control unit 16 rotates the rotary disc 11 and sets the coin transport unit 15 to a predetermined value. It is driven so that coins are conveyed at a predetermined speed. Then, the coins previously put into the rotary disk 11 are separated one by one by the centrifugal force, and are transferred by the coin transfer unit 15 so as to move from the deposit transfer path 12 toward the sorting path 14.

In this way, the coins are separated one by one and sequentially conveyed. Focusing on one of the detected coins, the detected coin moves to the line sensor 26 and the light receiving element When the detection is started by either of them, the control unit 16 sequentially attaches a number for distinguishing the detected coin from other coins, for example, in the order of detection, and detects magnetic data from the magnetic sensor 25 at that time. Let me A /
While being D-converted and stored in the RAM 50 as detected magnetic data in association with the number of the detected coin, detection of the continuously conveyed detected coin from the detection start time to the time when all the light receiving elements are no longer detected. The time is detected, and the detected time is multiplied by the predetermined transfer speed of the coin transfer unit 15 to calculate the transfer direction diameter data of the detected coin in the transfer direction, and the data is stored in the RAM 50 in association with the detected coin number. Further, the distance between the most distant ones of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 that simultaneously detect the detected coins within the detection time is set as the conveyance orthogonal direction diameter data of the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the detected coins. RAM5 in association with detected coin number
0 is stored.

Then, in the control unit 16, the larger one of the diameter data in the conveyance orthogonal direction and the diameter data in the conveyance direction relating to the detected coin, and R set in advance for each denomination are set.
The reference diameter data stored in the OM49 is compared to select a denomination within an allowable error range of the reference diameter data, and the denomination is selected from the reference magnetic data set in advance for each denomination and stored in the ROM 49. The reference magnetic data of the denomination and the magnetic data detected by the magnetic sensor 25 and related to the detected coin are compared, and further, the diameter data in the orthogonal direction to the conveyance and the diameter data in the conveyance direction are compared. .

Then, the difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is within a predetermined allowable error range, and the difference between the conveying orthogonal direction diameter data and the conveying direction diameter data is within a predetermined allowable error range. If so, the denomination of the reference magnetic data is determined to be the denomination of the detected coin, and the denomination is associated with the number of the detected coin together with the fact that the detected coin is a genuine coin and RAM 50. To temporarily store. On the other hand, the difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is within a predetermined allowable error range, and the difference between the conveying orthogonal direction diameter data and the conveying direction diameter data is outside the predetermined allowable error range. For example, the denomination of the reference magnetic data is determined to be the denomination of the detected coin, and the denomination is added to the number of the detected coin together with the fact that the detected coin is a true and loss true damaged coin. The RAM 50 is associated and temporarily stored in the RAM 50. On the other hand, when the difference between the reference magnetic data and the detected magnetic data is outside the predetermined allowable error range,
Alternatively, if the larger one of the diameter data in the conveying orthogonal direction and the diameter data in the conveying direction is not within the allowable error range of the reference diameter data of each denomination, the number of the detected coin is set regardless of other data. In association with this, the fact that the detected coin is a false coin is temporarily stored in the RAM 50.

Here, in the control section 16, the coin transport section 15
If the distance is set to a predetermined value, the transfer time, that is, the moving time of the coin can be calculated if the distance is predetermined. Therefore, such a moving time is preset between the sensors and stored in the ROM 49. There is. In particular,
The first movement time T ₁ from the timing when the detection of one coin is started by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26 to the timing when the detection is started by the traveling sensor 28, the one coin is detected by the traveling sensor 28. The second movement time T ₂ from the start timing to the timing at which the traveling sensor 29 starts detecting, from the timing at which one coin is detected at the traveling sensor 29 to the timing at which the passage sensor 41 detects passage. The third movement time T ₃ , the fourth movement time T ₄ from the timing when one coin is detected to pass by the passage sensor 41 to the timing when the passage sensor 42 detects the passage, and one coin is detected by the passage sensor 42. fifth moving time from the timing of passing is detected until the timing when the passage in the passage sensor 43 detects T _5, pass test one coin passage sensor 43 Passage sensor 4 from a timing that is
6th movement time T until the timing when passage is detected in 4
₆ , a seventh movement time T ₇ from the timing when one coin is detected by the passage sensor 44 to the timing when the passage sensor 45 detects the passage, one coin is detected by the passage sensor 45
The eighth moving time T8 from the timing at which passage is detected at to the timing at which passage is detected by the passage sensor 46 is stored.

Further, the control unit 16 is positioned at a position on the reject gate 13 where the coin, the detection of which has been started, is dropped by the opening operation after the timing at which the coin is detected by the traveling sensor 28 on the upstream side. The reject delay time obtained by dividing the predetermined moving distance up to that time by the predetermined conveying speed by the coin conveying unit 15 is stored. The timing at which the above-described coin detection is started is the time at which the state where the coin is not detected by the sensor is changed to the state where the coin is detected, and the timing at which the passage of the coin is detected is the sensor. It is the time when the state where the coin was detected changed from the state where it was not detected.

When it is determined by the detection data of the detection unit 22 that the detected coin is a false coin, the control unit 16
After the timing when the detected coin is detected by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, the first moving time T ₁
When the coin detection is started by the traveling sensor 28 on the upstream side after T ₁ ± t _{1 including} a predetermined allowable error of ± t ₁ , the time after the reject delay time elapses from the timing of the start of the detection. The reject gate 13 is opened at a timing, and after the reject gate 13 is opened for a time period during which the coin reliably falls, the coin is closed from the transport surface 13a and stored in a storage box (not shown). .

On the other hand, when it is determined by the detection data of the detection unit 22 that the detected coin is a genuine coin, the control unit 16
When the detection of the coin is started by the traveling sensor 28 on the upstream side after the lapse of T ₁ ± t after the detection of the detected coin by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, the detection is performed. The reject gate 13 is opened at a timing after the reject delay time has elapsed from the timing of the start of, and the reject gate 13 is opened for only the time for the coin to fall surely, and then the coin is brought into a closed state to convey the coin. It is removed from the surface 13a and stored in a storage box (not shown). At this time, the control unit 16 determines that the detected coin is the detected coin and that the detected unit 2 detects the detected coin.
The denomination determined based on the detection data of No. 2 is confirmed, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination immediately before, which is already stored in the RAM 50, is updated by 1 and stored. At the time of opening the reject gate 13, only the coins located on the reject gate 13 are dropped, and the coins located on the upstream side and the downstream side are not dropped. The size and the timing of the opening operation are set.

On the other hand, when it is determined by the detection data of the detection section 22 that the detected coin is a genuine coin, the control section 16
After the timing when the detected coin is detected by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26, the traveling sensor 28 on the upstream side starts detecting the coin after the lapse of T ₁ ± t ₁ .
Subsequently, after the elapse of T ₂ ± t _{2 including} the predetermined tolerance ± t ₂ in the second moving time T ₂ , the coin sensor is started to be detected by the traveling sensor 29 on the downstream side. After T ₃ ± t _{3 including} a predetermined tolerance ± t ₃ in the moving time T ₃ , the passage sensor 41 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction is passed.
When the passage of the coin is detected by the control unit 16, the control unit 16 determines that the coin is the detection coin and detects the detection unit 2 regarding the detection coin.
The denomination determined based on the detection data of 2 is determined, and the count value of the number of coins of the denomination immediately before, which is already stored in the RAM 50, is updated by 1 and stored. In addition,
At this time, the reject gate 13 maintains the closed state. Then, the coin, the passage of which is detected by the passage sensor 41 on the most upstream side, is further conveyed by the coin conveying unit 15 and is dropped from the corresponding one of the sorting holes 34 to 39 to a reflux hopper (not shown). Will be stored.

Here, in the control unit 16, the traveling sensor 28 detects the coin after the lapse of T ₁ ± t ₁ after the timing when the detection coin is detected by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26. Is started or not, after the passage of T ₁ ± t ₁ and subsequently after the passage of T ₂ ± t ₂ , the traveling sensor 29
In whether the coin detection is started, after the lapse of the T ₂ ± t _2, whether followed by passage in passage sensor 41 of the coin after elapse of the T ₃ ± t ₃ is detected, the T ₃ ± After the elapse of t ₃ , the fourth movement time T ₄ is continuously reduced to T including a predetermined tolerance ± t ₄ .
Whether or not the passage sensor 42 has detected the passage of coins after ₄ ± t ₄ has passed, after the passage of T 4 ± t ₄ , the fifth movement time T ₅ continues to a T including a predetermined tolerance ± t ₅ . After the passage of ₅ ± t ₅ , whether the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor 43,
After the passage of ₅ ± t ₅ , the passage sensor 44 is continuously passed after the passage of T ₆ ± t _{6 including} the predetermined tolerance ± t ₆ in the sixth movement time T _6.
It is determined whether or not the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor after the passage of T ₆ ± t ₆ and subsequently after the passage of T ₇ ± t _{7 including} the predetermined tolerance ± t ₇ in the seventh movement time T _7. Whether or not the passage of the coin is detected at 45, the passage is made after the passage of T ₇ ± t ₇ , and subsequently after the passage of T ₈ ± t _{8 including} the predetermined tolerance ± t ₈ in the eighth movement time T _8. Of the respective determinations as to whether or not the passage of coins is detected by the sensor 46, the detection unit 2 is used for the detected coins.
The sensor adjacent to the downstream side with respect to any one of the drop portions of the reject gate 13 and the sorting holes 34 to 39 of the detected coin estimated from the result of the determination based on the detection (the detected coin Is a false coin and a genuine coin, it is a running sensor 29, and if it is a genuine coin and its denomination is determined, it is adjacent to the downstream side with respect to the denomination of the sorting holes 34 to 39. Passage sensors 42-46
All of the above) are sequentially performed from the upstream side.
When the detected coin is the 500-yen coin having the maximum diameter, there is no adjacent sensor on the downstream side, and therefore the determination up to the passage sensor 46 is performed.

Then, the start or passage of the coin is detected (the start of the detection is the traveling sensor 28, the passage is the passage sensor 41 to 41).
In the case of No. 46, the same shall apply hereinafter), when it is determined that the sensor adjacent to the upstream side with respect to the falling portion (the detected coin is a false coin or a true damaged coin) at the timing after the passage of each corresponding moving time. Is a running sensor 28, and when the denomination of the genuine coin is determined, any one of the passage sensors 41 to 46 adjacent to the upstream side of the denomination of the sorting holes 34 to 39 is detected. If the sensor adjacent to the drop section on the downstream side does not detect the drop section, it is determined that the drop section has fallen from the proper drop section and the state is maintained as it is. If the detected coin is a 500-yen coin having a maximum diameter, and if the adjacent sensors on the upstream side with respect to the drop portion are detected, it is determined that the coin has been dropped from the appropriate drop portion and the state is maintained as it is. .

On the other hand, in the case where the detection start or passage of the coin is not detected at the timing after the passage of each of the corresponding movement times, among the sensors on the upstream side of the sensor including the sensor adjacent on the upstream side with respect to the dropping portion. When it occurs, it is determined that a conveyance failure such as a jam or a sorting failure has occurred, and the rotating disc 11 and the coin transfer section 15 are immediately stopped, and it is detected that, for example, the coin has not reached an appropriate drop section. The sensor that has not been activated is displayed on a display unit (not shown), and an alarm sound is generated by a notifying unit (not shown) if necessary.

In addition, when the coin detection start or passage is detected at the timing after the passage of each of the corresponding moving times up to the sensor adjacent to the dropping portion on the downstream side, the appropriate dropping portion is detected. It is determined that the coin has not been dropped and has been transported further downstream, and the rotating disk 11 and the coin transporting unit 15 are immediately stopped, and, for example, the fact that the coin has passed the proper dropping unit and the detection start or passage is detected. The most downstream sensor is displayed on a display unit (not shown), and an alarm sound is generated by a notifying unit (not shown) as necessary. In addition, when the detected coin is a 500-yen coin having the maximum diameter, this determination is not performed.

Specifically, for example, when the detected coin is determined to be a 100-yen coin, T ₁ ± after the timing when the detected coin is detected by any of the light receiving elements of the line sensor 26. After t ₁ has elapsed, the travel sensor 28
Coins in whether the coin detection is started, whether followed by T ₂ of the coin traveling sensor 29 after a lapse of ± t ₂ detected is started, the pass sensor 41 after a lapse of T ₃ ± t ₃ continues Whether the passage of the coin is detected, whether the passage of the coin is detected by the passage sensor 42 after the elapse of T ₄ ± t ₄ , and the passage of the coin by the passage sensor 43 after the passage of T ₅ ± t _5. Whether or not the passage sensor 4 is continuously detected after the elapse of T ₆ ± t _6.
It is determined whether or not the passage of coins is detected in 4, and whether or not the passage of the coins is detected by the passage sensor 45 after the passage of T ₇ ± t ₇ , and as a result, the selection hole for 100-yen coins is determined. 37
On the other hand, if the passage sensors 44 adjacent to each other on the upstream side are detected, and if the passage sensors 45 adjacent to each other on the downstream side are not detected, it is determined that the passage sensor 45 has fallen from an appropriate falling portion and the state is maintained as it is. Among the sensors on the upstream side including the passage sensor 44 adjacent to the upstream side of the selection hole 37 for 100-yen coins, the detection start or passage of coins is not detected at the timing after the passage of the corresponding movement time. In this case, and when the passage sensor 45 adjacent to the downstream side also detects the passage of coins, the rotary disc 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are immediately stopped.

In addition to the above, in addition to the above, the control unit 16 causes a conveyance failure when the passage of coins is detected at a timing different from the regular timing at which the detection start or passage of the detected coins should be detected. As a result, the rotating disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are immediately stopped, and the sensor that has detected the detection start or passage is displayed on the display unit (not shown).
An alarm sound (not shown) generates an alarm sound as needed. The above-described processing for detected coins is performed for all coins sequentially sent.

As described above, the control unit 16 controls the passage sensor 41.
Since the denomination of coins that have passed through is determined and counting is also performed, the above-described conveyance failure occurs on the deposit conveyance path 12, the reject gate 13 or the selection passage 14 during the selection and counting process, and the conveyance is stopped. In such a case, the operator manually determines that the denominations of the coins passing through the passage sensor 41 have been determined and the coins have been counted, and manually selects the corresponding denomination selection holes 34 to 39. For coins that have been dropped and have not passed through the passage sensor 41, that is, coins at the detection position of the passage sensor 41 and coins upstream of the passage sensor 41, it is determined that the denomination has not been determined and the counting has not been performed. After that, the coin transport unit 15 is reversed or manually returned to the rotating disk 11. Then, the sorting and counting process is restarted again by the operator's start instruction. Then, when the operator gives an instruction to start the sorting / counting process after such a defective conveyance, the control unit 16 drives the rotating disk 11 and the coin conveying unit 15 in the forward direction, and the counting thereafter is rotated. The count value for each denomination when the disk 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are stopped is continuously added.

Here, at the time when the conveyance is stopped due to the above-mentioned conveyance failure, the coin which is being detected by the detection unit 22 or which has already been detected and determined and has not passed through the passage sensor 41, that is, the determination based on the detection data by the detection unit 22. For coins whose denominations have not been determined, the control unit 16 erases the data when the transportation is stopped or when an instruction to start the sorting and counting process is issued again.

In addition to the above, when the operator gives an instruction to start one sort counting process in the control section 16, for example, the operator makes the rotating disk 11 and the transport surface 12 operate.
Until the operation of instructing the end of the sorting and counting process after confirming that no coins remain in a, 13a, and 14a is performed, the number of passing coins is counted for each passage sensor 41 to 46. Are stored in the RAM 50, and when an instruction operation to end the sorting counting process is made,
The count value of the passage sensor 42 is subtracted from the count value of the passage sensor 41 to calculate the count value of the 1-yen coin dropped in the sorting hole 34, and the count value of the passage sensor 43 is subtracted from the count value of the passage sensor 42. The count value of the 50-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 35 is calculated, and the count value of the passing sensor 44 is subtracted from the count value of the passage sensor 43 to calculate the count value of the 5-yen coin dropped into the sorting hole 36. Then, the count value of the passage sensor 45 is subtracted from the count value of the passage sensor 44 to calculate the count value of the 100-yen coin dropped in the selection hole 37, and the count value of the passage sensor 46 is calculated from the count value of the passage sensor 45. The count value of the 10-yen coins that have been subtracted and dropped in the selection hole 38 is calculated, and the passage sensor 4
The count value of 6 is set as the count value of the 500-yen coins dropped in the selection hole 39. Then, the count value of each of these denominations is stored in the RAM.
A final confirmation process of comparing with the count value of the same denomination among the count values of each denomination based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 stored in 50 is performed, and the count values of all denominations match each other. In the case where the denominations of the denominations are different from each other, the rotating disc 11 and the coin transport unit 15 are stopped, and the count value of each denomination is displayed on the display unit (not shown). The rotating disc 11 and the coin transporting unit 15 are stopped, and the display unit (not shown) displays the mismatched denominations and the number of differences between them, and an alarm unit (not shown) generates an alarm sound as necessary.

During the sorting and counting process, when the above-mentioned conveyance failure occurs and the rotary disk 11 and the coin conveying unit 15 are stopped, when the start operation is performed again,
The control unit 16 controls the passage sensors 41 to 46 before that.
Reset the count value for each and start counting from the beginning.
Regarding the count value of coins based on the detection data of the detection unit 22, the count value of the coin detected by the line sensor 26 after the start operation is performed again is separately counted, and the final confirmation processing described above is performed only for these count values. Become.

In the coin sorting / counting apparatus described above, the control unit 16 has the passage sensor 4 provided between the reject gate 13 and the sorting hole 34 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.
Every time 1 detects the passage of a coin, the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 is determined, and the value obtained by adding 1 to the already stored count value of the number of coins of the denomination is stored. In the case where the above conveyance failure occurs on the deposit conveyance path 12, the reject gate 13 or the selection passage 14 during the sorting and counting process, the transportation may be stopped. The coin passing through the passage sensor 41 can be determined to have the denomination fixed and counted, and the coin not passing through the passage sensor 41, that is, the coin at the position of the passage sensor 41 and the passage sensor 41 For the coins on the upstream side, it can be determined that the denomination has not been determined and the counting has not been performed, and thus it is determined whether or not the denomination has been determined and the counting has been performed by the passage sensor 41. Because of the possible in the decision, becomes clear.

Then, the operator manually drops the coins passing through the passage sensor 41 into the corresponding sorting holes 34 to 39, and the coins not passing through the passage sensor 41 are
After that, if the coin transport unit 15 is reversed or manually returned to the rotary disc 11 and then the sorting and counting process is restarted only for the coins remaining on the rotary disc 11, the count becomes incorrect. Never becomes,
Moreover, without redoing the sorting and counting process of all coins,
The continuation of the sorting count can be performed. Therefore, even if a conveyance failure occurs on the coin conveying path 15 during the sorting / counting processing and the transportation is stopped, the subsequent sorting / counting processing can be efficiently performed and the counting can be ensured. it can.

In the above embodiment, the most upstream passage sensor 41 provided between the reject gate 13 and the most upstream sorting hole 34 in the coin transport direction.
Is also used as a detection unit for determining the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data of the detection unit 22 to suppress the increase in cost, but it is determined based on the detection data of the detection unit 22. The result is a genuine coin, and the genuine coin is certainly distinguished from the false coin or the damaged coin and conveyed. In other words, the place where only the coins dropped in the selection holes 34 to 39 are conveyed, that is, the reject. Gate 1
3 may be provided separately from the passage sensor 41 as long as it is between the selection hole 34 on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction. For example, the downstream travel sensor 29 at this location
Of course, it is possible to use, but in this case, the control unit 1
6 determines the denomination of the coin and updates the count value when the traveling sensor 29 detects the passage of the coin. Then, when a false coin or a truly damaged coin that should be rejected by the reject gate 13 accidentally crosses the reject gate 13, the traveling sensor 29 starts detection, whereby the control unit 1
No. 6 determines that there is a conveyance failure and stops the rotary disk 11 and the coin conveyance section 15, so that it does not pass through the travel sensor 29 and is not fixed, and even in such a case, Can respond.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the invention, the control section is provided between the reject section of the coin transport path and the most upstream sorting hole in the coin transport direction. Each time the detection means detects the passage of a coin, the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit is determined, and the already stored count value of the number of coins of the coin is set to 1
Since it will be updated to the added value and stored, if a conveyance failure occurs on the coin conveyance path during the sorting and counting process and the conveyance is stopped, coins passing through the detection means are Since the denomination has been fixed and counting has been done, the coins that have not been passed through the detection means are manually dropped into the corresponding sorting holes, and since the denomination has not been fixed and the coins have not been counted, they are moved to the coin transport path. If the process is started again from the sending of the coins, the counting will not become inaccurate, and it will not be necessary to repeat the sorting and counting process of all the coins. Therefore, even if a conveyance failure occurs on the coin conveying path during the sorting / counting processing and the transportation is stopped, the subsequent sorting / counting processing can be efficiently performed and the counting can be made reliable.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the detecting means can be used also as the passage sensor provided on the upstream side of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, it is not necessary to separately provide the detecting means. Therefore, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a coin sorting and counting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin sorting and counting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 payment conveyance path (coin conveyance path) 14 selection passage (coin conveyance path) 15 coin conveyance section 16 control section 22 detection section 27 reject section 34-39 selection hole 41 passage sensor (detection means) 42-46 passage sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coin transport path into which coins are separated and fed, a coin transport section for transporting coins on the coin transport path, a coin on the coin transport path is detected, and a denomination of the coin is determined. A detection unit for detecting detection data for, a reject unit provided on the downstream side of the detection unit of the coin transport path in the coin transport direction, capable of excluding coins from the coin transport path, and the coin transport path Sorting holes are arranged along the coin transport direction downstream of the reject unit in the coin transport direction, and sorting holes of each denomination for sorting and dropping coins of corresponding denominations are provided respectively on the upstream side of the sorting holes. Also, regarding a passage sensor that detects coins and coins detected by the detection unit, whether or not the coins are circulating coins and if they are circulating coins, the denomination thereof is determined based on the detection data. If it is a fixed coin and it is not a circulating coin,
A coin sorting and counting device having a control unit for removing the coins from the coin transport path by the reject unit, between the reject unit of the coin transport path and the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, While providing a detection unit for detecting coins, the control unit, each time the detection unit detects the passage of coins, determines the denomination of the coin determined based on the detection data detected by the detection unit, A coin sorting and counting device, characterized in that the count value of the number of coins of the denomination that has already been stored is updated to a value obtained by adding 1 and stored. 2. The coin sorting / counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a passage sensor provided upstream of the sorting hole on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction.