JPH1011629A - Image input device for coin and coin discriminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input device for coin with which image processing can be accelerated in speed and improved in function by simultaneously inputting image data on the front face and side face of coin through one photoelectric transducing means. SOLUTION: The front face and side face of a coin C conveyed on hardened glass 1 through a conveyer belt 3 are illuminated by a light source 4 and the image of light reflected from the front face of the coin C by this illumination is formed at the position confronted with the front face of the coin C by a lens 5. Further, the optical path of light reflected from the side face of the coin C is changed in the direction confronted with the front face of the coin C by a reflection mirror 7, the image of light reflected from the side face of this coin C is formed at the position confronted with the front face of the coin C by a lens 8, and these respective images formed by the lenses 5 and 8 are respectively photodetected and converted to electric signals by a line sensor 6 provided at the position confronted with the front face of the coin C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin image input device for inputting an image of a coin such as a coin or a medal, and a coin identification device for identifying a coin type using the image input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, coins have been identified, for example, using characteristics such as the outer diameter, weight, and material of the coins. However, recently, since there are many different types of coins with almost the same characteristics, a method has been devised that uses the characteristics of the coin side to accurately identify the type of coin, and a coin image is input for that purpose. Means for doing so have been devised. For example, JP-A-1-12069
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4 (1994) discloses a method of detecting irregularities (hereinafter, abbreviated as “jagged”) on the side surface of a coin using an optical fiber.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-1
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 20694, detection of a jaw on the side of a coin requires detection by a sensor from the side of the coin. Therefore, it is difficult to install the coin when the width of the conveying means for conveying the coin is narrow. It is.

Further, images of the front and side surfaces of a coin cannot be simultaneously input by one sensor. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for simultaneously storing image data of the front and side surfaces of a coin in one.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin image input device that can be input by two photoelectric conversion means and can speed up and enhance image processing.

[0005] Further, according to the present invention, coin data can be input simultaneously with one photoelectric conversion means, and image data of the front and side surfaces of a coin as a discrimination object can be input, so that image processing can be speeded up and advanced. It is intended to provide a device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin discriminating apparatus capable of improving performance in detecting irregularities (jaggies) on the side surface of a coin.

[0006]

A coin image input device according to the present invention comprises: illumination means for illuminating a surface and a side surface of a coin conveyed along a conveyance surface by a conveyance means; A first imaging unit that forms an image of light reflected from the surface of the coin on a portion facing the surface of the coin, and an optical path of light reflected from a side surface of the coin by illumination of the illumination unit facing the surface of the coin. Optical path changing means for changing the direction of the coin, a second image forming means for forming an image of the reflected light from the side surface of the coin guided by the optical path changing means on a portion facing the surface of the coin, and the surface of the coin And a single photoelectric conversion unit which receives each image formed by the first and second imaging units and converts the image into an electric signal.

[0007] The coin image input device of the present invention comprises:
Illuminating means for illuminating the surface and side surface of the coin conveyed along the conveying surface by the conveying means, and changing the optical path of light reflected from the coin surface by the illumination of the illuminating means to a direction facing the side surface of the coin. Light path changing means, a first image forming means for forming an image of reflected light from the surface of the coin guided by the light path changing means on a portion opposed to a side surface of the coin, and the coin by illumination of the illumination means. A second image forming means for forming an image of the reflected light from the side surface of the coin on a portion opposed to the side surface of the coin, and a second image forming means provided on a portion opposed to the side surface of the coin, the first and second image forming means A single photoelectric conversion unit that receives each of the formed images and converts the received light into an electric signal.

Further, the coin identification device of the present invention is provided with image input means for inputting image data of a front surface and side image data of a coin to be discriminated by the conveying means, and input by the image input means. Outer diameter detecting means for detecting the outer diameter of the coin based on image data of the surface of the coin, and unevenness detecting the presence or absence of unevenness on the side face of the coin based on image data of the side face of the coin input by the image input means Detecting means; first determining means for determining whether or not the outer diameter detected by the outer diameter detecting means is in a predetermined relationship with the outer diameter of the standard data; When it is determined that the outer diameter has a predetermined relationship with the outer diameter of the standard data, the presence or absence of the unevenness detected by the unevenness detecting means is in a predetermined relationship with the presence or absence of the unevenness of the standard data. Luke and and a second determination means for determining whether.

Further, the coin identifying apparatus of the present invention comprises an image input means for inputting image data of a side of a coin as an identification object to be conveyed by the conveying means, and the coin by the image data input by the image input means. Projection image creating means for creating a projection image of the coin, unevenness detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of unevenness on the side surface of the coin from the projected image created by the projected image creating means, Identification means for identifying the type of coin.

Further, the coin identification device of the present invention has a single image input means for simultaneously inputting image data of the front surface and image data of a side face of a coin to be discriminated by the conveying means, and this image input means. Outer diameter detecting means for detecting the outer diameter of the coin based on the image data of the coin surface input by the input device, based on coin position data obtained from the image data of the coin surface input by the image input means Projection image creating means for creating a projected image of the coin based on image data of the side face of the coin input by image input means, and the presence or absence of irregularities on the side face of the coin from the projected image created by the projected image creating means And a coin based on the detection result of the outer diameter detecting means and the detection result of the irregularity detecting means. It is provided with identification means for identifying the type.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described. 1 and 2 show the configuration of a coin identification device using a coin image input device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a transparent hardened glass as a transport surface for transporting a coin (coin) C,
A guide member 2 is provided on one end side of the upper surface, and the coin C is conveyed while being guided by the guide member 2.
In this case, the coin C is pressed onto the transport surface 1 by the transport belt 3 and is forcibly transported in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

Below the hardened glass 1, there is provided a light source 4 as an illuminating means for illuminating the surface and side surfaces of the coin C being conveyed. The reflected light from the surface of the coin C due to the illumination of the light source 4 is also transmitted to the hardened glass 1 by a lens 5 as first image forming means provided at a portion below the hardened glass 1 and opposed to the surface of the coin C. Is formed on a light receiving surface of a line sensor 6 as a photoelectric conversion means provided at a portion opposed to the surface of the coin C below the coin C, and is converted into an electric signal. The line sensor 6 is provided in parallel with a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the coin C is transported.

The reflected light from the side surface of the coin C due to the illumination of the light source 4 is reflected by a reflection mirror 7 as an optical path changing means provided at a position above the hardened glass 1 and opposed to the side surface of the coin C.
Accordingly, the optical path is changed below the hardened glass 1 in a direction opposite to the surface of the coin C. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the reflection mirror 7 is installed so as to be inclined with respect to the surface of the coin C (the transport surface 1) so that the angle θ is 45 degrees or less.

The reflected light from the side surface of the coin C guided by the reflecting mirror 7 is transmitted by a lens 8 as a second image forming means provided at a position below the hardened glass 1 and opposed to the reflecting mirror 7. An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 and is converted into an electric signal. In this case, on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6, the area is set so that the image forming area of the lens 5 and the image forming area of the lens 8 do not overlap.

Here, the lenses 5 and 8 may have the same magnification or different magnifications. This magnification depends on the distance from the surface of the coin C to the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 and the distance from the side surface of the coin C to the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 via the reflection mirror 7, respectively. The formed image may have different magnifications on the front and side surfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is sufficient that 1 / a + 1 / b = 1 / f1 / A + 1 / B = 1 / F. However, since the side image is smaller and difficult to see, it is desirable to set the magnification so that the magnification of the side image is higher than the magnification of the surface image. In addition, these lenses 5 and 8 may use a cell hook array lens.

The image for each line obtained from the line sensor 6 is formed as an entire image by moving the coin C by the conveyor belt 3 while scanning a plurality of lines, and the formed image is The image is sent to the image processing unit 9. The image processing section 9 identifies whether or not the coin C is desired, and will be described later in detail.

The sorting section 10 sorts the coins C conveyed by the conveyor belt 3 into one of two paths (not shown) by driving the gate 11 according to the identification result of the image processing section 9. It has become.

With such a configuration, the coin C is transported to the transport belt 3.
The coin C is conveyed by the line sensor 6 in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing, and an image of a downward surface (front surface) parallel to the hardened glass 1 serving as the conveying surface of the coin C and a surface (side surface) perpendicular to the hardened glass 1 Are simultaneously captured, and image data of the surface and side surfaces of the coin C are obtained at the same time. Then, based on the image data of the front and side surfaces of the coin C obtained from the line sensor 6, whether or not the coin C is desired is identified, and the gate 11 sorts the coin C based on the identification result. ing.

Hereinafter, the operation of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be briefly described. While moving along the guide member 2 on the hardened glass 1, the coin C forms an image by reflecting light emitted from the light source 4, and is converted into an electric signal by the line sensor 6, whereby the entire coin C is formed. Are collected. At this time, the image of the surface of the coin C is, as shown in FIG.
And the image of the side surface of the coin C is reflected by the reflecting mirror 7 whose θ is adjusted to 45 degrees or less with respect to the surface of the coin C, and forms an image on the line sensor 6 through the lens 8. .

An image for each line obtained from the line sensor 6 is formed as an entire image by moving the coin C by the transport belt 3 while scanning a plurality of lines, and the formed image is It is sent to the image processing unit 9. The image processing unit 9 identifies whether the coin C is desired,
The coins C are sorted by driving the gate 11 according to the identification result.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the image processing section 9 includes an image input section 21, a start / end end detection section 22, a coordinate generation section 23, an image generation / accumulation section 24, and an external diameter detection means. Diameter detector 25, jagged detector 2 as unevenness detector
6, a comparison unit 27 as identification means, and a standard data storage unit 28 as standard data storage means.

That is, the image input unit 21 A / D converts the image data output from the line sensor 6 and outputs the digital image data. At this time, the image input unit 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a line sensor 6 in addition to the digital image data.
, A signal (H signal) read out pixel by pixel and a V signal output each time the line sensor 6 starts scanning.

The image data, the H signal, and the V signal output from the image input unit 21 are sent to a start / end end detection unit 22, a coordinate generation unit 23, and an image generation / storage unit 24. The start / end end detection unit 22 detects a start end and an end end when the coin C passes over the line sensor 6 according to a signal output from the image input unit 21. For example, FIG. As shown, a counter 31, a comparator 32, an AND circuit 33, D-type flip-flop circuits 34 and 35,
36 and a logic inversion circuit 37.

That is, in the start / end end detecting section 22, first, the comparator 32 compares the image data output from the image input section 21 with a certain threshold value, and outputs a high-level output if it is larger, otherwise. In this case, a low-level output is performed. When the coin C conveyed as shown in FIG. 1 is detected by the line sensor 6, the comparator 32 outputs a high-level coin C having reflected light having a pixel value equal to or larger than the threshold value while passing over the line sensor 6. By outputting a signal, the start end and the end end of the image data of the coin C can be detected. Actually, a logical operation is performed by the AND circuit 33 while the read coordinates of each line are counted by the counter 31. This allows
Only the pixel corresponding to the coin C outputs a high-level signal from the AND circuit 33.

The first high-level signal output from the AND circuit 33 is a signal representing the leading end of the coin C to be conveyed, and the last high-level signal corresponding to the trailing end is equivalent to the signal representing the trailing end. The flip-flop circuits 34, 35,
36 is caught. The flip-flop circuit 34 captures the change of the first AND circuit 33 to a high-level signal,
It is output to the coordinate generator 23 as a start signal.

The flip-flop circuit 35 outputs a high-level signal at the moment when a high-level signal is output from the AND circuit 33, while being reset every time the V signal is input. That is, the flip-flop circuit 35
Outputs a high-level signal when pixel data exceeding the threshold value exists in one line, so that a high-level signal is always output at the end of scanning of each line while the coin C crosses the line sensor 6. Is done.

This output is held by the flip-flop circuit 36 before the flip-flop circuit 39 is reset, so that the output of the flip-flop circuit 36
Keeps outputting a high-level signal while the signal crosses the line sensor 6. The logic inversion circuit 37 inverts the output, outputs a high-level signal at the rear end of the coin C passing through the line sensor 6, and outputs the signal as the end signal.
4 and output to the comparison unit 27.

The coordinate generating section 23 generates coordinate data of the image of the coin C captured by the line sensor 5 based on the H signal and the V signal output from the image input section 21.
For example, as shown in FIG.

That is, the coordinate generating section 23 has the counter 4
1 is reset by a V signal indicating the start of scanning of one line, and the H signal corresponding to reading for each pixel is counted to output an X coordinate value. The counter 42 is generated at the tip of the coin C. It is reset by the start signal and counts the V signal to output the Y coordinate value.

Here, the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value indicate the coordinate values in the scanning direction of the line sensor 6 and the direction perpendicular thereto, respectively, as shown in FIG. The coordinate data output from the coordinate generator 23 is sent to the image generator / accumulator 24.

The image generating / accumulating unit 24 starts accumulating the image data from the image input unit 21 for each coordinate data from the coordinate generating unit 23 in response to the start signal from the start / end edge detecting unit 22. Data is stored in a form as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface image of the coin C is stored in the area A, and the side image is stored in the area B.

The outer diameter detecting section 25 includes an image generating / accumulating section 24.
The outer diameter value of the coin C is detected from the image data and the coordinate data of the area A portion of the image data stored in the image data, and the processing is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of detecting the outer diameter of the coin C by the outer diameter detecting unit 25. The coin C is used in accordance with the data of the area A of the image data stored in the image generating / accumulating unit 24. The image range of is detected. That is, first, in step 51, the X coordinate value (X coordinate maximum value) Xma of the pixel having the largest X coordinate among the pixel values having values equal to or greater than the threshold value
x is detected. This processing is realized, for example, by a flowchart as shown in FIG.

According to FIG. 8, after the initial setting in step 61, it is checked in step 62 whether or not an image having a brightness higher than the brightness has been captured. It is checked whether or not the image has the largest X coordinate value. If the image has the largest Δ coordinate value so far, the Χ coordinate value is stored in step 64. By repeatedly examining this over the entire imaging range as in steps 65 to 68, the maximum X coordinate value Xmax of the surface image of the coin C is obtained.

Next, in step 52, the X coordinate value (X coordinate minimum value) Xmin of the pixel having the smallest X coordinate among the pixel values having values equal to or larger than the threshold value is detected. This processing is realized, for example, by a flowchart as shown in FIG.

According to FIG. 9, after the initial setting in step 71, it is checked in step 72 whether or not an image having a luminance higher than the brightness has been captured. It is checked whether or not the image has the smallest X coordinate value. If the image has the smallest smallest Χ coordinate value, the Χ coordinate value is stored in step 74. By repeatedly examining the entire image pickup range as in steps 75 to 78, the X coordinate minimum value Xmin of the surface image of the coin C is obtained.

Next, in step 53, the outer diameter is obtained by subtracting the X coordinate minimum value Xmin from the X coordinate maximum value Xmax obtained as described above, and the result is sent to the comparison unit 27. The indentation detecting unit 26 detects the presence or absence of an indentation on the side surface of the coin C based on the image data in the area B of the image data stored in the image generating / accumulating unit. The processing is performed according to the flowchart.

According to FIG. 10, after initial setting in step 81, in steps 82 to 88, of the pixels in the area B of the image data stored in the image generation / storage section 24, the pixel values are set. Are counted as pixels that are equal to or greater than a certain threshold. Since the light source 4 is installed so as to be obliquely illuminated on the side surface of the coin C, if the coin C has a jaw on the side surface, it is counted by the configuration of the imaging unit as shown in FIGS. The number of pixels increases, and if there is no jagging, it decreases.

Thereafter, in steps 89 to 91, if the counted value is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, the data "1" is output to the comparing section 27 as the presence of the jaggedness. And outputs data “0” to the comparison unit 27.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the standard data storage unit 28 stores a standard outer diameter value of a desired coin and determines whether or not the desired coin has a knurl. The data is stored as data "1" when there is a jaw, and as data "0" when there is no jaw.

The comparing section 27 stores the data output from the outer diameter detecting section 25 and the jaw detecting section 26 and the standard data storing section 2
Then, it is determined whether the coin C matches the type of a desired coin stored as the standard data by comparing the standard data stored in the standard data 8 with the standard data stored in the standard data. This processing is realized, for example, by a flowchart as shown in FIG.

According to FIG. 12, after the initial setting in step 101, first, in step 102, the outer diameter value of the standard data is subtracted from the detected outer diameter value, and the subtraction result is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not. In this determination, if the subtraction result is smaller than the threshold, then in step 103,
It is determined whether or not the detected data on the presence or absence of the indentation matches the data on the presence or absence of the indentation in the standard data.

In this determination, if both match,
In step 104, a flag indicating a match is set. That,
Repeat steps 105 to 106 as many times as the number of standard data, and finally check the status of the flag in step 107 to determine whether the coin C is the desired one and sort the result as a sorting signal. Output to the unit 10.

Finally, the selection unit 10 controls the gate 1 according to the selection signal output from the comparison unit 27 of the image processing unit 9.
By rotating the coin 1, the coins C conveyed by the conveyor belt 3 are sorted into one of two paths (not shown).

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a configuration of a coin identification device using a coin image input device according to the second embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the mirror 7, the lens 8, and the lens 5 are replaced with the mirror 12, the lens 13, and the lens 14.
The other parts are the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different portions will be described in detail.

The light reflected from the surface of the coin C by the illumination of the light source 4 is reflected by a reflection mirror 1 as an optical path changing means provided at a position below the hardened glass 1 and opposed to the surface of the coin C.
2, the optical path is changed below the hardened glass 1 in a direction facing the reflection mirror 12. In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the reflection mirror 12 is installed so as to be inclined with respect to the surface of the coin C (the transport surface 1) so that the angle θ is 45 degrees or less.

The reflected light from the surface of the coin C guided by the reflecting mirror 12 is reflected below the hardened glass 1 by the reflecting mirror 1.
A line sensor provided at a portion of the side of the hardened glass 1 facing the side surface of the coin C (and the lens 13) by a lens 13 as a first image forming means provided at a portion facing the coin 2 An image is formed on the light receiving surface 6 and converted into an electric signal. The line sensor 6 is provided in a vertical state on the side of the hardened glass 1 so as to be parallel to the side surface of the coin C.

The reflected light from the side surface of the coin C due to the illumination of the light source 4 is transmitted to a lens 14 as a second image forming means provided at a portion of the hardened glass 1 which is opposed to the side surface of the coin C.
Thus, an image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 and is converted into an electric signal. In this case, the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 is set so that the image forming area of the lens 13 and the image forming area of the lens 14 do not overlap.

Here, the lens 13 and the lens 14 are
The magnifications may be the same or different from each other. This magnification depends on the distance from the surface of the coin C to the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6 via the reflection mirror 12 and the distance from the side surface of the coin C to the light receiving surface of the line sensor 6, respectively. The formed image may have different magnifications on the front and side surfaces. For example,
As shown in FIG. 14, it is sufficient that 1 / a + 1 / b = 1 / f1 / A + 1 / B = 1 / F. However, since the side image is smaller and difficult to see, it is desirable to set the magnification so that the magnification of the side image is higher than the magnification of the surface image.

Hereinafter, the operation of FIGS. 13 and 14 will be briefly described. While moving along the guide member 2 on the hardened glass 1, the coin C forms an image by reflecting light emitted from the light source 4, and is converted into an electric signal by the line sensor 6, whereby the entire coin C is formed. Are collected.
At this time, the image of the surface of the coin C is reflected by the reflecting mirror 12 whose θ is adjusted to 45 degrees or less with respect to the surface of the coin C as shown in FIG.
The image of the side surface of the coin C is formed on the line sensor 6 through the lens 14.

The image for each line obtained from the line sensor 6 is obtained by moving the coin C by the conveyor belt 3 while scanning a plurality of lines, as in the first embodiment. The image is formed as an entire image, and the formed image is sent to the image processing unit 9. The image processing unit 9 identifies whether or not the coin C is desired, and sorts the coin C by driving the gate 11 according to the identification result.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is a modified example of the processing method of the jaw detection unit 26 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, a procedure 111 for creating a projected image, Then, a procedure 112 for counting the number of portions having a differentiated value equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value with respect to the differentiated result, and comparing the counted value with a reference value to determine the presence or absence of a dent on the side surface of the coin C Step 113 is performed.

In this example, the input image data is the image data as shown in FIG. in this case,
The inspection process in the Y direction is performed along the surface image data of the area A.

That is, first, the processing of the procedure 111 is realized by, for example, a flowchart as shown in FIG. According to FIG. 16, after initialization is performed in step 121, a projected image is created in step 122 through step 126 in f (i). In this case, based on the position data (for example, the outer diameter value) of the coin C obtained from the surface image data of the area A, a projected image is created by the side image data of the area B. By creating such a projected image, distortion in the X direction of the image is absorbed.

Next, the processing of the procedure 112 is realized by, for example, a flowchart as shown in FIG. FIG.
According to the above, after the initial setting in step 131, step 13
In step 135 from step 2, the created projected image f (i) is differentiated, and the number of locations having a differentiated value equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is counted with respect to the differentiated result. As a result, when the coin C has a jaw on the side surface, the count value increases, and when there is no coin, the count value decreases.

Next, the processing in the procedure 113 is performed by comparing the value counted in the procedure 112 with a predetermined threshold value using, for example, a comparator 29 as shown in FIG. Signal, and if there is no signal, a "0" signal is output.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the surface and side surface of the coin are illuminated, the optical path of the light reflected from the side surface is changed using a reflection mirror, and two lenses having different magnifications are used. By adjusting the focus of the surface image and the side image to form an image on the same line sensor, the defocus is suppressed, and the image of the surface and side surface of the coin is simultaneously captured by one line sensor. Can be.
Therefore, the circuit can be unified, and the speed and the function of the image processing can be increased.

Further, according to the second embodiment, the positional relationship between the reflection mirror, the lens and the line sensor in the first embodiment is changed so that there is no margin in the lower direction of the coin conveying means. The first embodiment can be installed, and the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the jaggedness detecting section in the first embodiment performs a process of judging the presence or absence of a jaw in accordance with the state of the jagged image, thereby improving the performance. become. Further, since the area of the side image is limited based on the position data of the coin obtained from the surface image, the work of cutting off the side image is omitted, and the image processing is simplified.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the present invention is applied to a coin identifying device for identifying the type of coin, the present invention is not limited to this. The same applies to identification devices.

[0061]

As described above in detail, according to the coin image input device of the present invention, image data of the front and side surfaces of the coin can be simultaneously inputted by one photoelectric conversion means, and the speed of image processing is increased. And sophistication can be achieved.

According to the coin identification device of the present invention,
Image data of the front and side surfaces of a coin as a discrimination target can be simultaneously input by one photoelectric conversion unit, so that high-speed and high-speed image processing can be achieved. Further, according to the coin identification device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the performance in detecting unevenness (jaggies) on the side surface of the coin.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a coin identification device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing an image input part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a start / end end detection unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a coordinate generating unit.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing image data stored in an image generation / storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by an outer diameter detection unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for detecting an X coordinate maximum value in an outer diameter detection unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for detecting an X coordinate minimum value in an outer diameter detection unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by a jagged detection unit.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an array of standard data stored in a standard data storage unit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by a comparison unit.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a coin identification device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view schematically showing the image input part of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by a jaw detection unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a projection creation process in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a differential count processing procedure in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining the determination processing in FIG. 15;

[Explanation of symbols]

C ... coin (coin), 1 ... hardened glass (transport surface),
2 ... guide member, 3 ... conveyor belt, 4 ... light source (illumination means), 5, 13 ... lens (first imaging means), 6
... Line sensors (photoelectric conversion means), 7, 12 reflection mirrors (optical path changing means), 8, 14 lenses (second imaging means), 9 image processing section, 10 selection section , 11
... Gate, 21... Image input unit, 22... Start and end detection unit, 23... Coordinate generation unit, 24... Image generation / accumulation unit, 25. 26: jagged detection unit (unevenness detection unit), 27: comparison unit (identification unit), 28: standard data storage unit (standard data storage unit).

Claims (14)

[Claims] An illumination unit configured to illuminate a surface and a side surface of the coin conveyed along the conveyance surface by the conveyance unit; and a light reflected from the coin surface by illumination of the illumination unit facing the coin surface. First image forming means for forming an image on a portion, light path changing means for changing an optical path of light reflected from the side of the coin by illumination of the illumination means in a direction facing the surface of the coin, and optical path changing means. Second imaging means for imaging the reflected light from the side surface of the coin guided by the above on a portion facing the surface of the coin; and
And a single photoelectric conversion unit that receives each image formed by the second imaging unit and converts the image into an electric signal, and an image input device for coins. 2. The coin image input device according to claim 1, wherein said optical path changing means is provided on a side opposite to said second image forming means with respect to said transport surface. 3. The optical path changing means is a reflection mirror,
The coin image input device according to claim 1, wherein the coin image input device is installed at an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to the transport surface. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second imaging means have a predetermined magnification, respectively, and the magnification of the second imaging means is larger than the magnification of the first imaging means. The coin image input device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A lighting unit for illuminating a surface and a side surface of a coin conveyed along a conveying surface by a conveying unit; and an optical path of light reflected from the coin surface by the illumination of the illuminating unit. An optical path changing unit for changing the direction of the coin to an opposite direction; a first image forming unit for forming an image of the reflected light from the surface of the coin guided by the optical path changing unit on a portion facing the side surface of the coin; Second imaging means for imaging light reflected from the side surface of the coin by the illumination of the coin on a portion facing the side surface of the coin; and
And a single photoelectric conversion unit that receives each image formed by the second imaging unit and converts the image into an electric signal, and an image input device for coins. 6. The coin image input device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second image forming means are installed on opposite sides of the conveyance surface. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second imaging units has a predetermined magnification, and a magnification of the second imaging unit is larger than a magnification of the first imaging unit. The coin image input device according to claim 5, wherein: 8. An image input means for inputting image data of a front surface and side image data of a coin as an object to be conveyed by the conveying means, and image data of the front surface of the coin input by the image input means. Outer diameter detecting means for detecting the outer diameter of the coin; unevenness detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of unevenness on the side face of the coin based on image data of the side face of the coin input by the image input means; First determining means for determining whether or not the outer diameter detected by the means has a predetermined relationship with the outer diameter of the standard data; and determining whether the outer diameter detected by the first determining means is equal to the outer diameter of the standard data. Is determined to have a predetermined relationship with the standard data, it is determined whether or not the presence or absence of the unevenness detected by the unevenness detection means is in a predetermined relationship. Coin identification device, characterized by comprising a means. 9. The image input means includes: an illuminating means for illuminating a surface and a side surface of the coin conveyed along the conveying surface by the conveying means; and a light reflected from the coin surface by the illumination of the illuminating means. First image forming means for forming an image on a portion facing the surface of the coin, and light path changing means for changing an optical path of light reflected from a side surface of the coin by illumination of the illumination means in a direction facing the surface of the coin. And second imaging means for imaging reflected light from the side surface of the coin guided by the optical path changing means on a portion facing the surface of the coin, and provided on a portion facing the surface of the coin, Each of the images formed by the first and second image forming means is received and converted into an electric signal, thereby outputting image data on the surface of the coin and image data on a side surface of the coin. 9. The coin identification device according to claim 8, comprising a single photoelectric conversion unit. 10. The image input means includes: an illuminating means for illuminating a surface and a side surface of the coin conveyed along the conveying surface by the conveying means; and an optical path of light reflected from the coin surface by the illumination of the illuminating means. Path changing means for changing the direction of the coin in a direction facing the side surface of the coin, and a first image forming a reflected light from the surface of the coin guided by the light path changing means on a portion facing the side surface of the coin Means, a second imaging means for imaging the reflected light from the side of the coin by the illumination of the illumination means on a part facing the side of the coin, and provided at a part facing the side of the coin, Each of the images formed by the first and second image forming means is received and converted into an electric signal, thereby outputting image data on the surface of the coin and image data on the side surface of the coin. 9. The coin identification device according to claim 8, comprising a single photoelectric conversion unit that performs the operation. 11. An image input means for inputting image data of a side surface of a coin as an object to be conveyed by a conveying means, and a projected image for forming a projected image of the coin based on the image data inputted by the image input means. Creating means; unevenness detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of unevenness on the side surface of the coin from the projected image created by the projected image creating means; identifying means for identifying the type of the coin based on the detection result of the unevenness detecting means A coin identification device, comprising: 12. The unevenness detecting means differentiates the projection image created by the projection image creating means, counts the number of places having a differentiated value equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold with respect to the differentiated result, and The coin identification device according to claim 11, wherein the presence or absence of unevenness on the side surface of the coin is detected by comparing a numerical value with a reference value. 13. A single image input means for simultaneously inputting image data of a front surface and image data of a side surface of a coin as an identification object conveyed by a conveying means, and a surface of the coin input by the image input means Outer diameter detecting means for detecting the outer diameter of the coin based on the image data of the coin, based on the position data of the coin obtained from the image data of the surface of the coin input by the image input means,
Projection image creating means for creating a projected image of the coin based on image data of the side face of the coin input by image input means; and determining whether there is unevenness on the side face of the coin from the projected image created by the projected image creating means. A coin discriminating device comprising: an unevenness detecting means for detecting; and an identification means for identifying a type of the coin based on a detection result of the outer diameter detecting means and a detection result of the unevenness detecting means. 14. The unevenness detecting means differentiates the projection image created by the projection image creating means, counts the number of places having a differential value equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value with respect to the differentiation result, and 14. The coin identification device according to claim 13, wherein the presence or absence of irregularities on the side surface of the coin is detected by comparing a numerical value with a reference value.