JPH1083470A - Object identification device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit a temperature sensor to precisely read an irregularly formed pattern and to highly precisely identify it by changing the temperature of an object by means of a heater, detecting the temperature of irregular positions where the temperature difference of an object surface occurs and identifying the object based on a detected temperature and the reference temperature of the object. SOLUTION: A temperature distribution becoming the reference of respective parts on the outer face of a coin C is previously stored in a memory. In a coin identification device 11, the coin C is guided on a coin transportation belt 12 and the outer peripheral face of a heating roller 13 is rotationally brought into contact with the upper face of the coin C at the contact position with the heating roller 13 for transportation. Only the projecting part C1 of the upper face irregular pattern of the coin C is brought into contact so as to heat it. Thus, the temperature difference occurs between the projecting part C1 and the recessing part C2. The coin is guided to the position of infrared CCD 14 provided on the post-stage position in a state where the temperature difference occurs. Then, the upper irregular pattern of the coin different in temperature distribution is read. Temperature distribution data of the coin C which is read is collated with reference temperature distribution data and CPU identifies the denomination 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 an object discriminating apparatus which is internally provided in a card reader or a coin discriminating section of an automatic teller machine (ATM). TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an object identification device and an object identification method for accurately identifying an object from an object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an object discriminating device of this type irradiates light emitted from an LED array 122 through a lens 123 onto an upper surface of a card 121 guided to a photoelectric reading position of an optical sensor as shown in FIG. Then, the reflected light beam 124 is read by an image sensor 126 via a rod lens array 125, and the read image data is subjected to image processing such as edge enhancement processing. The uneven pattern formed on the front and back of the coin 128 is read.

However, when reading the reflected light of such an optical sensor, it is indistinguishable if there is reflected light other than the uneven pattern, and if the uneven pattern portion is dirty or dark, pattern data can be obtained. In addition, when reflected light is further acquired, it is not possible to distinguish between reflected light of a pattern and reflected light of another ground color such as white, which is easily reflected, and the discrimination performance of the optical sensor is limited. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult to accurately discriminate a fake coin or the like having a pseudo pattern attached to the outer surface.

[0004]

Accordingly, the present invention focuses on reading a pattern formed on an outer surface of an object such as a card or a coin using a temperature sensor instead of an optical sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an object identification device and an object identification method for accurately reading a formed pattern and identifying an object with high accuracy.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Storage means for storing a reference temperature of the object, temperature change means for changing the temperature of the object, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the object whose temperature has been changed by the temperature change means, and an object detected by the temperature detection means And an identification means for identifying the object based on the detected temperature of the object and the reference temperature of the object stored in the storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device for storing in advance the temperatures of a plurality of places of the object.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature change means for changing the temperature of the object by bringing a rotating body having a different temperature from the object into rotational contact with the object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature detecting device for detecting temperatures at a plurality of places on the object.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature detecting means for detecting a surface temperature of the object without contacting the object.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the object based on a measurement of a temperature change of the rotating body which is in rotational contact with the object.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing a reference physical property variation held by an object, a heating means for heating the object in contact with the object, and a heated surface of the object heated by the heating means. A heat-sensitive means for changing the physical properties of the heat-sensitive body by bringing the heat-sensitive body into contact with the heat-sensitive body, a physical property change amount detecting means for detecting a physical property change amount of the heat-sensitive body heated by the heat-sensitive means, and a physical property change amount detecting means. The object identification device is characterized by comprising an identification means for identifying an object based on the physical property change amount and the reference physical property change amount stored in the storage means.

[0012] The invention according to claim 8 is provided with a heat-sensitive means for changing the physical properties of the heat-sensitive body by bringing the heat-sensitive body into contact with the surface to be heated of the heated object by rotatingly contacting the rotary body having a higher temperature than the object. It is characterized by the following.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing a reference physical property change amount held by an object, a contact means for obtaining a change in physical property by bringing a pressure sensitive body into contact with the object, Physical property change detecting means for detecting the physical property change amount of the pressure sensitive body brought into contact with the object, and detecting the object based on the physical property change amount detected by the physical property change detecting means and the reference physical property change amount stored by the storage means. Identification means for identification.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pre-temperature change detecting means for detecting the temperature of the object before the temperature change, wherein the temperature of the object before the temperature change detected by the pre-temperature change detecting means is detected. And identifying means for identifying the object based on the detected temperature of the object after the temperature change and the reference temperature of the object stored in the storage means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pre-heating temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the object before heating, and a heating amount of the heating means is changed according to the temperature of the object detected by the pre-heating detecting means. A heating amount changing means for causing the heating amount to change.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an object temperature changing means for changing the temperature of the object to a temperature suitable for the identification processing before changing the temperature of the object is provided.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing a reference ink applied object obtained by applying an ink to an object, an ink applying means for applying an ink to the object, and an ink applying means wherein the ink applying means applies the ink. An object identification unit comprising: an inked object detecting unit for detecting an object; and an identifying unit for identifying the object based on the inked object detected by the inked object detecting unit and the reference inked object stored in the storage unit. The device is characterized in that:

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the object is changed in temperature, the temperature of the changed object is detected, and the object is identified from the detected temperature of the detected object and the previously stored reference temperature of the object. It is an identification method.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identification method for identifying an object based on detecting temperatures at a plurality of locations of the object.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identification method for changing the temperature of an object while conveying the object.

[0021]

According to the present invention, when identifying an object, first,
After preheating the object by changing the temperature of the object by the temperature changing means, the temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the uneven position where the temperature difference of the temperature-changed object surface occurs, and detects the detected temperature of the detected object. The identification unit identifies the object based on the reference temperature of the object stored in the storage unit.

[0022]

As a result, when the temperature of an object such as a card or a coin is changed by heating, cooling, or the like, a temperature difference occurs between the concave portion and the convex portion of the uneven pattern of the object. The pattern of the object can be accurately identified.
For example, if a heating roller is brought into rotational contact with the surface of a coin,
The convex portion of the coin has a high temperature, and by detecting this high temperature distribution, the surface pattern of the coin can be accurately identified. Therefore, even a fake coin or the like having a pseudo-pattern stuck on the outer surface can be accurately identified, and can be used for identifying various objects as a highly reliable identification device having high identification performance.

Further, the rotating body such as the heating roller can be efficiently incorporated into the object conveying line as a conveying / member.

In detecting the temperature, the temperature distribution of the object can be detected without contacting the object, or the temperature distribution of the object can be detected using a heat-sensitive material such as heat-sensitive paper. Also,
The object can also be identified by using a pressure-sensitive body such as a pressure-sensitive paper that detects the amount of change in the physical properties of the object.

Further, if the temperature of the object before heating is detected, the amount of change can be detected more accurately than the temperature after heating. In addition, by changing the heating amount suitable for the temperature detection result before heating, the temperature change width before and after heating can be set small, and efficient heating operation and heating management suitable for material protection of the object can be performed. . If the object is cooled before heating, the amount of heating of the object can be reduced. In addition, apply ink to the surface of the object,
Even if the ink distribution is detected, an object can be similarly identified from the ink distribution.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a coin discriminating apparatus 11 internally provided in a coin processing unit of an ATM. The coin discriminating apparatus 11 is a coin transport belt for transporting coins C on a top surface one by one in a horizontal direction. The belt 12 includes a heating roller 13 disposed along the upper front portion of the belt 12 and an infrared CCD 14 disposed along the upper rear portion of the belt 12.

The heating roller 13 on the front side has a heater 15 and a temperature sensor 16 mounted inside, and the temperature of the heating roller 13 heated by the heater 15 is measured by the temperature sensor 1.
The temperature controller 17 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater 15 based on the detected temperature data.

At this time, the coin C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction is conveyed while being sandwiched between the heating roller 13 and the coin conveyance belt 12 facing each other up and down. When the roller 13 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 13 contacts and heats only the convex portion C1 of the concave and convex pattern of the coin C, and comes into a non-heated state without contact with the concave portion C2.

For this reason, the top surface irregularities C1, C2 of the coin C
A temperature difference is caused between the coins C which has caused the temperature difference.
The temperature distribution of normal temperature and high temperature corresponding to the concave and convex pattern is read in a non-contact manner by an infrared CCD 14 provided on the rear side of the coin transport belt 12, and the read image data is read by an image processing unit 18.
Is extracted from the threshold (threshold level) set by the temperature difference, and the image of the uneven pattern is obtained by accurately distinguishing the uneven portion from the cut of the convex. I do.

Further, since the infrared CCD 14 receives only infrared light, the color of the coin C is not acquired at all, and the temperature distribution on the coin surface can be accurately detected. As a result, the concave and convex pattern of the coin can be accurately read from the amount of infrared rays proportional to the temperature. In addition, since high-speed sampling of about 1/60 second is possible, an image can be obtained while conveying coins. Further, a cooling device 19 is connected to the infrared CCD 14, and the cooling device 19 cools the infrared CCD 14 to increase the resolution of the infrared CCD 14.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the coin discriminating device. The CPU 21 controls each circuit device according to a program stored in the memory 22 and stores the control data in the memory.

Further, the memory 22 stores a reference temperature distribution in which a temperature distribution serving as a reference for each part of the coin outer surface is set in advance, and the CPU 21 compares the reference temperature distribution with the read temperature distribution. To accurately read and judge the concave and convex pattern of the coin.

The image processing IC circuit 23 includes an infrared CCD 1
4 reads the infrared image data read by the image memory 25 through an infrared CCD receiving circuit 24 for comparison with reference data.
To get. The infrared CCD cooling control unit 26 controls the cooling of the infrared CCD 14 by outputting a cooling signal to the cooling device 19 in order to increase the resolution of the infrared CCD 14. The heating roller rotation control unit 27 drives and outputs the heating roller drive motor M1 so that the heating roller 13 has a rotation speed suitable for heating by rotatingly contacting the coin. The transport speed control unit 28 drives the transport motor M2 so that the coin transport belt 12 has a transport speed suitable for coin transport processing.

When coins are identified using the coin identification device 11 configured as described above, the coins C are transferred to the coin transport belt 12.
When being guided upward and conveyed, the outer peripheral surface of the heated heating roller 13 is brought into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C at the position of contact with the upper heating roller 13 which also serves as a conveyance, and the upper surface of the coin is Only the protrusion C1 of the concavo-convex pattern is contacted and heated, and a temperature difference occurs between the protrusion C1 and the recess C2. In the state where this temperature difference has occurred, the infrared CC
It is led to the position of D14, where the upper surface irregularities of coins having different temperature distributions are read. The read temperature distribution data of the coin C is compared with the reference temperature distribution data stored in the memory 22, and the CPU 21 identifies the denomination of the coin C based on the comparison result.

In this case, a high-precision discrimination is possible because the temperature change of the concave and convex portions of the coin is accurately grasped, and even a fake coin having a pseudo pattern adhered to the outer surface can be accurately discriminated. As a highly reliable identification device having high identification performance, it can be used for identification of various objects such as coins and cards.

[Second Embodiment] A coin identification device 3 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 32 for transporting coins C one by one on a top surface and transporting the coins one by one in a horizontal direction, a cooling roller 33 disposed along a front upper portion of the belt 32, and a rear upper portion of the belt 32. And an infrared CCD 34 opposed to the infrared CCD.

The cooling roller 33 on the front side has a cooler 35 and a temperature sensor 36 mounted inside, and the temperature of the cooling roller 33 cooled by the cooler 35 is measured by the temperature sensor 3.
6, the temperature controller 37 for adjusting the temperature of the cooling roller adjusts the temperature of the cooler 35 based on the detected temperature data.

At this time, the coins C guided to the belt upper surface and conveyed in the horizontal direction are conveyed while being sandwiched between the vertically opposed cooling roller 33 and the coin conveying belt 32, and the upper cooling roller 33 is conveyed. When the roller C comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 33 comes into contact with only the convex portion C1 of the concavo-convex pattern of the coin C and cools, and comes into a non-cooling state without contact with the concave portion C2.

For this reason, a temperature difference is generated between the top and bottom uneven portions C 1 and C 2 of the coin, and the temperature distribution between the normal temperature and the low temperature corresponding to the uneven pattern of the coin C having caused the temperature difference is determined by the coin transport belt 32. The image data is read in a non-contact manner by the infrared CCD 34 provided on the rear side, and the read image data is transferred to the image processing unit 38. Here, the cut-out of the convex part whose temperature has been lowered from the threshold set based on the temperature difference is performed. Then, an image of the concavo-convex pattern is obtained by accurately distinguishing the concavo-convex portion from the cutout of the protruding portion. The infrared CCD 34 includes the infrared CCD 3
4 is connected to a cooling device 39 for improving the resolution. In this way, even when the coin C is cooled by using the cooling roller 33 and the concave and convex pattern of the coin is identified from the temperature change of the cooled coin, the same operation and effect can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] A coin identifying apparatus 4 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 42 which transports the coins C on the upper surface one by one in a horizontal direction, a heating roller 43 provided along an upper front portion of the belt 42, and an upper rear portion of the belt 42. And a heat sensor module 44 opposed thereto.

The front heating roller 43 has a heater 45 and a temperature sensor 46 mounted inside, and the temperature of the heating roller 43 heated by the heater 45 is detected by the temperature sensor 4.
The temperature controller 47 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater 45 based on the detected temperature data.

At this time, the coin C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction is conveyed while being sandwiched between the heating roller 43 and the coin conveyance belt 42 which are opposed to each other vertically, and the upper heating roller 43 is conveyed. When the roller 43 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 43 contacts and heats only the convex portion C1 of the concave and convex pattern of the coin C, and comes into a non-heated state without contact with the concave portion C2.

For this reason, the top surface irregularities C1, C2 of the coin C
A temperature difference is caused between the coins C which has caused the temperature difference.
The temperature distribution of normal temperature and high temperature corresponding to the concave and convex pattern is read by contacting the thermal sensor module 44 provided on the rear side of the coin transport belt 42.

In this case, the coin C is stored in the heat sensor module 4
At the time corresponding to 4, the transport of the coin transport belt 42 is stopped,
The heat sensor module 44 having a large number of heat sensors is pressed against the upper surface of the stopped coin C to read the heat distribution data of the concave and convex pattern of the coin. The read heat distribution data is transferred to the image processing unit 48, where the raised convex portion is cut out from the threshold value set by the temperature difference, and the uneven portion is accurately distinguished from the cut out of the convex portion. Acquire the image of the uneven pattern.

Thus, on the upper surface of the heated coin C,
Even if the thermal sensor module 44 is configured to contact the heat sensor module 44 so as to detect the temperature difference between the concave and convex portions on one side of the coin C, the detection and identification can be performed accurately and similarly. In addition, a non-contact type heat sensor module that detects the temperature while transporting coins may be used, and if it takes a long time to detect the temperature, the coins can be read in a state where the transport of coins is stopped. .

Fourth Embodiment A coin discriminating apparatus 5 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 52 that transports the coins C on the upper surface and transports the coins one by one in a horizontal direction, a heating roller 53 provided along the front upper portion of the belt 52, and the heating roller 53. And an infrared linear sensor 54.

The heating roller 53 has a heater 55 and a temperature sensor 56 mounted inside. The temperature of the heating roller 53 heated by the heater 55 is detected by the temperature sensor 56, and based on the detected temperature data. A temperature controller 57 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater 55.

At this time, the coin C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction is conveyed while being sandwiched between the heating roller 53 and the coin conveyance belt 52 facing each other up and down. When the roller 53 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 53 comes into contact with and heats only the convex portion C1 of the concavo-convex pattern of the coin C, and comes into a non-heating state without contact with the concave portion C2.

At the time of passing the coin, the temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 53 is reduced because only the portion in contact with the coin is absorbed by the heat. To read without contact. The read temperature distribution data is transferred to the image processing unit 58, where a high-temperature portion or a low-temperature portion is cut out from a threshold value set by the temperature difference, and the concave and convex portions of the coin are accurately distinguished from this cut-out. An image of an uneven pattern is surely acquired.

As described above, instead of directly detecting the heated coin, the temperature distribution on the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 53 that has been absorbed by contact with the coin is detected by the infrared linear sensor 54.
Even if it is configured to detect indirectly, the uneven pattern of the coin can be accurately identified in the same manner.

[Fifth Embodiment] Coin identification device 6 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 62 which transports the coins C on the upper surface one by one in a horizontal direction, a heating roller 63 disposed along a front upper portion of the belt 62, and a rear upper portion of the belt 62. And a thermal paper belt 64 opposed thereto.

The front heating roller 63 has a heater 65 and a temperature sensor 66 mounted inside, and the temperature of the heating roller 63 heated by the heater 65 is measured by the temperature sensor 6.
6, the temperature controller 67 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater 65 based on the detected temperature data.

At this time, the coins C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction are conveyed while being sandwiched between the upper and lower heating rollers 63 and the coin conveying belt 62 which are opposed to each other. When the roller 63 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 63 comes into contact with and heats only the convex portion C1 of the concave and convex pattern of the coin C, and comes into a non-heated state without contact with the concave portion C2.

For this reason, the upper and lower uneven portions C 1 and C 2 of the coin C
A temperature difference is caused between the coins C which has caused the temperature difference.
The temperature distributions of normal temperature and high temperature corresponding to the uneven pattern are brought into contact with a thermal paper belt 64 provided opposite to the rear side of the coin transport belt 62 and copied.

In this case, heat distribution data of the concavo-convex pattern of the coin is copied as the coin C is conveyed and passed, and the color of the copied thermal paper belt 64 changes in proportion to the high temperature.
This is clearly illuminated by the illumination device 68 facing upward,
This copied color distribution data of different colors is
(Normal image sensor) The color distribution data read by 69 is transferred to the image processing unit 70, where the convex pattern whose temperature is raised from the threshold value set by the temperature difference is cut out. An image of the concavo-convex pattern is obtained by accurately distinguishing the concavo-convex portion from the cut-out of the protruding pattern.

When the color distribution data is obtained, the physical property change amount (color change amount) of the thermal paper is the reference physical property change amount of the thermal paper stored in the memory (the reference color change amount held by the thermal paper). ) And coin C based on the result of the comparison.
Identify the denomination.

As described above, even if the thermal paper belt 64 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the heated coin C so as to correspond to the upper surface of the heated coin C, and the thermal paper belt is used to copy the uneven pattern data on one side of the coin, the coin can be identified. Can be.

[Sixth Embodiment] A coin identification device 7 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 72 for transporting the coins C on the upper surface one by one in the horizontal direction, a pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 provided above the belt 72, and an illumination device 74 for illuminating the belt.
And C for reading the pressure-sensitive color of the pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 whose pressure has changed.
It comprises a CD 75 and an image processing unit 76 for performing image processing from the read pressure-sensitive colors.

The coin C guided to the upper surface of the coin transport belt 72 and transported in the horizontal direction is transported while being sandwiched between the pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 and the coin transport belt 72 facing each other up and down. At this time, when the upper pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 is brought into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the contacting paper surface of the pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 comes into strong contact with only the convex portion C1 of the coin C, and the color changes, and the concave portion C2 changes. And the color is in a non-change state. Therefore, the color distribution corresponding to the concavo-convex pattern of the coin C can be copied by the pressure-sensitive paper belt 73.

Accordingly, the color distribution data of the concavo-convex pattern of the coin is copied at the lower surface reversing part of the pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 as the coin C is transported and passed, and the surface of the copied pressure-sensitive paper belt 73 is colored with a convex part. This is clearly illuminated by the illuminating device 74 opposed to the upper surface reversing portion, and the copied color distribution data of different colors is read by the CCD 75, and the read color distribution data is sent to the image processing portion 76. The projection is cut out of the convex pattern contacted under pressure from the threshold value set by the color, and the concave and convex portions are accurately distinguished from the cut of the convex pattern to obtain an image of the concave and convex pattern.

When the color distribution data of the coin C is obtained, the physical property change amount (color change amount) of the pressure-sensitive paper is changed by the reference physical change amount of the pressure-sensitive paper stored in the memory (the standard change amount of the pressure-sensitive paper). (The amount of color change), and the coin C is identified based on the result of the comparison. Thus, the heated coin C
Even if the pressure-sensitive paper belt 74 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the coin, and the uneven pattern data on one side of the coin is copied by the pressure-sensitive paper belt, the coins can be identified.

[Seventh Embodiment] A coin discriminating apparatus 8 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 82 for transporting the coins C one by one on the upper surface in a horizontal direction, a pressure sensor module 83 provided above the belt 82, and image processing based on a detection signal of the pressure sensor module 83. Image processing unit 84
It is composed of

In this case, when the coin C corresponds to the upper pressure sensor module 83, the coin transport belt 82 is stopped, and the pressure sensor module 83 in which a number of pressure sensors are arranged on the upper surface of the transported coin C is stopped. The pressure distribution data of the uneven pattern of the coin is read by pressing. The read pressure distribution data is transferred to the image processing unit 84, where a convex portion that comes into strong pressure contact is cut out from a threshold value set by the pressure difference, and an uneven portion is accurately distinguished from the cut out of the convex portion. Acquire the image of the uneven pattern. As described above, even if the pressure sensor module 83 is used to detect the pressure difference between the concave and convex portions on one side of the coin C, the coin C can be similarly detected and identified accurately.

[Eighth Embodiment] A coin identification apparatus 9 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a coin transport belt 92 for transporting coins C one by one on a top surface and transporting the coins one by one in a horizontal direction, a first infrared CCD 93 provided along an upper front portion of the belt 92, and a belt 92.
And a second infrared CCD opposed along the rear upper part of the belt 92.
95.

Among them, a heater and a temperature sensor (not shown) are mounted inside the heating roller 94 in the intermediate portion, the temperature of the heating roller 94 heated by the heater is detected by the temperature sensor, and based on the detected temperature data. A temperature adjuster 96 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater.

At this time, the coin C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction is conveyed while being sandwiched between the heating roller 94 and the coin conveyance belt 92 which are opposed to each other vertically. When the roller 94 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 94 contacts and heats only the convex portion C1 of the concavo-convex pattern of the coin C, and comes into a non-heated state without contact with the concave portion C2. For this reason, a temperature difference is generated between the upper and lower concave and convex portions C1 and C2 of the coin C, and a normal temperature and a high temperature distribution corresponding to the concave and convex pattern of the coin C that has caused the temperature difference are provided on the rear side. (2) Non-contact reading by the infrared CCD 95.

In this case, if the first infrared CCD 93 previously detects the temperature of the coin C before heating at the preceding stage for the heating roller, a more stable reading result can be obtained from the temperature difference between before and after heating. Can be Then, the read image data is transferred to the image processing section 97, where the raised convex portion is cut out from the threshold value set by the temperature difference, and the uneven portion is accurately separated from the cut out of the convex portion. Separately, an image of an uneven pattern is obtained. When the temperature distribution data is obtained, the control unit compares the temperature distribution data with the reference temperature distribution data stored in the memory, and identifies the denomination of the coin C based on the comparison result. Further, the first and second infrared CCDs 93 and 95 have first and second cooling devices 9 for improving the resolution of the infrared CCD.
8,99 are connected.

[Ninth Embodiment] A coin discriminating apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 10 has a coin transport belt 102 for transporting coins C one by one on a top surface and transporting the coins one by one in a horizontal direction. A coin cooling device 103 provided opposite thereto, and a heating roller 10 provided along an upper intermediate portion of the belt 102.
4 and an infrared CCD 105 disposed along the upper rear portion of the belt 102.

Among them, a heater and a temperature sensor (not shown) are mounted inside the heating roller 104 in the intermediate portion, the temperature of the heating roller 104 heated by the heater is detected by the temperature sensor, and based on the detected temperature data. A temperature controller 106 for adjusting the temperature of the heating roller adjusts the temperature of the heater.

At this time, the coin C guided to the upper surface of the belt and conveyed in the horizontal direction is separated from the heating roller 104 facing up and down by the heating roller 104.
When the upper heating roller 104 comes into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 104 comes into contact with the upper and lower sides of the coin C. Only in contact with and heat
2 is in a non-heated state in a non-contact state, and causes a temperature difference between the upper surface irregularities C1 and C2 of the coin C. The temperature distribution between the normal temperature and the high temperature corresponding to the irregular pattern of the coin C having caused the temperature difference is obtained. Reading is performed in a non-contact manner by the infrared CCD 105 provided on the rear side.

In this case, with respect to the coin C guided to the heating roller 104, the entire upper surface of the coin C is cooled in advance by a coin cooling device 103 disposed in the preceding stage of the roller 104. Thus, after passing through the heating roller 104, the temperature difference between the heated convex portion and the non-heated concave portion becomes clear, and the clear temperature distribution data can be accurately read by the infrared CCD 105.

Then, the read image data is transferred to the image processing unit 107, where the raised convex portion is cut out from the threshold value set by the temperature difference, and the uneven portion is extracted from the cut out of the convex portion. An image of a concavo-convex pattern is obtained by accurately distinguishing. When the temperature distribution data is obtained, the control unit compares the temperature distribution data with the reference temperature distribution data stored in the memory, and identifies the denomination of the coin C based on the comparison result.
Further, a CCD cooling device 108 for improving the resolution of the infrared CCD is connected to the infrared CCD 105.

[Tenth Embodiment] A coin discriminating device 111 shown in FIG. 11 has a coin transport belt 112 for transporting coins C one by one on a top surface and transporting the coins one by one in a horizontal direction. An opposed ink roller 113, and a CCD 114 opposed along an upper portion of the intermediate portion of the belt 112.
And a cleaner 115 provided along the upper rear portion of the belt 112.

The ink roller 113 on the front side is connected to the ink supply device 116,
A coin 13 is rotated in contact with the upper surface of the coin to apply the ink.
12, the upper ink roller 113 is brought into rotational contact with the upper surface of the coin C,
The outer peripheral surface of the roller 113 has a convex portion C1 of a concavo-convex pattern of the coin C.
In this case, the ink is applied in contact with only the concave portion C2 and is in an uncoated state without contacting the concave portion C2, and an upper surface uneven portion C1, C2 of the coin C forms an ink distribution corresponding to the concave and convex pattern of the coin. Is read in a non-contact manner by the CCD 114 provided at the intermediate portion.

In this case, the ink distribution data of the coin C on which the ink is applied is clearly illuminated by the filter-equipped illuminating device 117 facing upward, and this ink distribution data
D114, the read ink distribution data is transferred to the image processing unit 118, and the convex pattern on which the ink is applied is cut out based on the threshold value for determining the presence or absence of ink, and the convex pattern is cut out. The image of the concavo-convex pattern is obtained by accurately distinguishing the concavo-convex portions from the image. When the ink distribution data is obtained, the control unit compares the ink distribution data with the reference ink distribution data stored in the memory, and identifies the denomination of the coin C based on the comparison result.

Further, the ink applied to the upper surface of the coin C is removed by the cleaner 115 disposed on the rear side of the coin transport belt 112 so that the circulation of the coin is not hindered. As described above, even when the coin is applied with ink and the ink distribution is detected, an object can be surely identified from the ink distribution.

As described above, when the temperature of a coin is changed by heating, cooling, etc., a temperature difference occurs between the concave portion and the convex portion of the coin's uneven pattern, and the difference in the temperature difference is grasped to identify the coin pattern. can do. Therefore, it is possible to accurately identify even a fake coin or the like having a pseudo-pattern stuck on its outer surface. Can be used to identify objects.

Further, a rotating body such as a heating roller or a cooling roller can be efficiently incorporated into a coin transporting line as a transporting member, and the temperature can be detected in a non-contact manner by detecting the temperature distribution of the coin in a non-contact manner. The temperature distribution of coins can be detected using paper. Also, coins can be identified by using pressure-sensitive paper that detects the amount of change in physical properties of coins. Further, if the temperature of the coin before heating is detected, a more accurate change amount can be detected as compared with the temperature after heating. In addition, by changing the heating amount suitable for the temperature detection result before heating, the temperature change width before and after heating can be set to be small, and efficient heating operation and heating management suitable for coin material protection can be performed. . If the coin is cooled before heating, the amount of heating of the coin can be reduced. Further, even if ink is applied to the surface of the coin and the ink distribution is detected, the coin can be similarly identified based on the ink distribution.

In correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the object identifying apparatus of the present invention
1,31,41,51,61,71,81,91,10
Similarly, the object corresponds to the coin C, the storage means corresponds to the memory 22, and the temperature changing means and the rotating body correspond to the heating rollers 13, 43, 53, 63,
The temperature detecting means corresponds to the infrared CCDs 14, 34, 9 and 94, 104, the cooling roller 33 and the cooler 35.
3, 95, 105, the thermal sensor module 44, and the infrared linear sensor 54, and the identification means includes the image processing units 18, 38, 48, 58, 70, 76, 84, 97, 1
07, 118 and the CPU 21, the heating means
The heaters 15, 45, 55, and 65 correspond to the heat-sensitive element and the heat-sensitive means correspond to the heat-sensitive paper belt 64, the physical property change amount detecting means corresponds to the CCDs 69 and 75, and the pressure-sensitive element and the contact means correspond to the heat-sensitive elements. The detecting means before temperature change and the detecting means before heating correspond to the first infrared CCD 93, and the heating amount changing means correspond to the temperature controller 17, 38, 47, 57, 67. , 9
6 and 106, the object temperature changing means corresponds to the coin cooling device 103, and the ink applying means corresponds to the ink roller 1
13, the ink-applied object detecting means is a CCD 11
Although corresponding to the fourth embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the coin identification device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coin identification device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory view showing a conventional coin identification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 1
01, 111 ... coin discriminating device 13, 43, 53, 63, 94, 104 ... heating roller 14, 34, 93, 95, 105 ... infrared CCD 15, 45, 55, 65 ... heaters 17, 38, 47, 57, 67, 96, 106 ... temperature controllers 18, 38, 48, 58, 70, 76, 84, 97, 1
07, 118 image processing unit C coin C1 convex part C2 concave part 21 CPU 22 memory 33 cooling roller 35 cooler 44 heat sensor module 54 infrared linear sensor 64 thermal paper belt 69 75, 114 CCD 73 Pressure-sensitive paper belt 83 Pressure sensor module 103 Coin cooler 113 Ink roller 115 Cleaner

Claims (16)

[Claims] A storage means for storing a reference temperature of the object; a temperature change means for changing the temperature of the object; a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the object whose temperature has been changed by the temperature change means; An object identification device comprising: identification means for identifying an object based on the detected temperature of the object detected by the means and the reference temperature of the object stored in the storage means. 2. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores in advance the temperatures at a plurality of locations of the object. 3. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature changing means changes the temperature of the object by bringing a rotating body having a different temperature from the object into rotational contact with the object. 4. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means detects temperatures at a plurality of places on the object. 5. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means detects a surface temperature of the object without contacting the object. 6. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means detects a temperature change of the rotating body which has come into rotational contact with the object. 7. A storage means for storing a reference physical property change amount held by an object, a heating means for heating the object by contacting the object, and a heat-sensitive body contacting a heated surface of the object heated by the heating means. A heat-sensing means for changing the physical properties of the heat-sensitive body, a physical property change amount detecting means for detecting a physical property change amount of the heat-sensitive body heated by the heat sensitive means, a physical property change amount detected by the physical property change detecting means, and the storage. An object identification device comprising: identification means for identifying an object based on the reference physical property change amount stored by the means. 8. The object identification device according to claim 7, wherein the heat-sensitive means changes the physical properties of the heat-sensitive body by bringing the heat-sensitive body into contact with a heated surface of the heated object by rotatingly contacting a rotating body having a higher temperature than the object. apparatus. 9. A storage means for storing a reference physical property change amount held by an object, a contact means for obtaining a change in physical property by bringing a pressure-sensitive body into contact with the object, and a pressure-sensitive means for bringing said object into contact with said object. Physical property change detection means for detecting physical property change of the body,
An object identification device comprising: identification means for identifying an object based on the physical property change detected by the physical property change detecting means and the reference physical property change stored by the storage means. 10. A pre-temperature-change detecting means for detecting a temperature before a temperature change of an object is provided, and an identification means detects the temperature of the object before the temperature change detected by the pre-temperature-change detecting means and the temperature detecting means. 8. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the object is identified based on the temperature of the object after the temperature change and the reference temperature of the object stored in the storage unit. 11. A heating amount changing means for changing a heating amount of the heating means in accordance with a temperature of the object detected by the before-heating detecting means. The object identification device according to claim 7, further comprising: 12. An object temperature changing means for changing the temperature of an object to a temperature suitable for identification processing before changing the temperature of the object. 8, 9,
12. The object identification device according to 10 or 11. 13. A storage means for storing a reference ink applied object obtained by applying ink to an object, an ink application means for applying ink to the object, and an ink application for detecting the ink applied object to which the ink application means has applied ink. An object identification device, comprising: an object detection unit; and an identification unit that identifies an object based on the ink-coated object detected by the ink-coated object detection unit and the reference ink-coated object stored in the storage unit. 14. An object identification method for changing the temperature of an object, detecting the temperature of the changed object, and identifying the object based on the detected temperature of the detected object and a reference temperature of the object stored in advance. 15. The object identification method according to claim 14, wherein the object is identified based on detecting temperatures of a plurality of places of the object. 16. The object identification method according to claim 14, wherein the temperature of the object is changed while the object is being conveyed.