JPH11272921A - Paper sheets identifying device with housing recognizing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the management of ROM, which is assembled to a paper money identifying device corresponding to the housing to be mounted to the paper money identifying device at the manufacturing step of the paper money identifying device capable of variably attaching and detaching plural kinds of housings of different number of the housed sheets of paper money and in which the upper limit value of the number of housing sheets for detecting the housing being full. SOLUTION: Concerning this paper sheets identifying device, a detecting piece 21 displaying information showing the kind of the housing by the combination of the presence/absence of a slit SL is attached onto the side wall surface 02a of the housing 02, sensors #1 (11) and #2 (12) detecting the slit S1 of the piece 21 are provided on the inner-side wall surface 01a of a paper money identifying device main body 01 and a microcomputer 14 discriminates the combination of the presence/absence of the slit SL of each sensor of the piece 21 from the signal levels of the sensors #1 and #2 to recognize the kind of the housing 02. Then the upper limit value of the number of the housed sheets of the housing of the kind is searched from the table of the upper limit value of the number of the housed sheets of each kinds of the housed housing in advance and this upper limit value of the number of the housed sheets and the number of actually housed sheets are compared with each other to detect the housing being full.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bill validator (a bill validator) incorporated in a vending machine or the like, and identifies the authenticity, type, etc. of inserted bills and paper sheets such as cards. A paper sheet discriminator capable of detachably mounting any of a plurality of types of storage boxes having different numbers of stored paper sheets, and particularly recognizes a storage box mounted on the sheet storage apparatus. Storage recognition that detects that the storage is full by comparing the number of paper sheets that can be stored (the upper limit of the number of stored papers) with the number of paper sheets that are actually stored in this storage. The present invention relates to a paper sheet identification machine with a function.

[0002] In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A bill discriminating machine detects the fullness of a storage, since there is a possibility that a failure will occur if a banknote is stored in a storage more than its storage capacity. The following three methods are known as a method of detecting this full state. The upper limit of the number of stored sheets is stored in advance in the ROM of the bill validator, and the bill validator counts the number of stored and recognized bills, and when the counted value reaches the upper limit, the bill is full. how to. A method in which a sensor for converting the number of stored banknotes into a thickness is incorporated in a storage, and it is determined that the banknote is full when the thickness detected by the sensor reaches a predetermined thickness. Although the power of a motor or the like is used to store bills in the storage, when the number of banknotes stored in the storage reaches the limit that can be stored, the operation time of the motor rapidly increases, A method that detects when the storage operation is stopped by locking and makes it full.

A conventional bill validator uses one or more of the above methods to detect the fullness of a bin. In the case of the method, a ROM storing the upper limit value of the number of sheets stored in one storage is prepared for each storage, and the corresponding ROM is selected at the manufacturing stage of the banknote recognition machine, and the relevant banknote recognition machine is selected. It is supported by incorporating it.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part of the control means (microcomputer in this example) in the bill validator using the fullness detection method. S1 to S13 are the step numbers. Referring to FIG. 2, after the power is turned on, the control device performs an initialization process in step S1, and then executes step S1.
Wait for bill insertion in step 2. If a bill is inserted (branch Y), the inserted bill is identified in step S3, and it is determined in step S4 whether the bill is a genuine bill.
If the bill is not genuine (step S4, branch N), the banknote is returned in step S5 and the process returns to step S2. If the bill is genuine (step S5).
4, branch Y), and proceed to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether there is a refund command. If there is a refund command (branch Y), the banknote is returned in step S5 and the process returns to step S2. On the other hand, if there is no refund command (step S6). Branch N), and proceed to step S7. In step S7, it is determined whether or not there is a collection command. If there is no collection command (branch N), the process returns to step S6.
If there is a collection command (step S7, branch Y), the process proceeds to step S8 to perform a storing process, and stores the banknote in the storage.

Next, in step S9, the number of banknotes stored in the storage is counted and updated, and the updated number of stored banknotes is stored in the α address of a RAM (not shown) belonging to the microcomputer. In S10, the upper limit of the number of sheets stored in advance in, for example, address 100 of a ROM (not shown) belonging to the microcomputer is read out to the A register. next,
In step S11, it is determined whether or not the content of the A register (the set upper limit of the number of stored sheets) is larger than the content of the address α in the RAM (the number of stored sheets until now). If the set upper limit of the number of stored sheets is larger than the number of stored sheets (branch Y), the storage is not full, so the process returns to step S2 to wait for the next bill insertion. If the upper limit value is equal to or less than the stored number of sheets (step S1
(1, branch N), and proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, a process is performed when the banknote is full to prohibit acceptance of the banknote, and an alarm is transmitted to the outside to urge the operator to take out the banknote from the storage. Then, in step S13, a full release process is waited for. As a result of the full release processing, if a full release signal is received from the operator (branch Y), the process returns to step S2.

[0009]

However, the above method (1) has a problem that the number of sheets to be full varies greatly depending on the environment and the state of the stored banknotes, and the full state cannot be detected accurately. In addition, the method has the following problem. 1) R storing the upper limit of the number of stored sheets for each type of storage
Since the OM needs to be prepared, the management of the ROM at the manufacturing stage becomes complicated. 2) It is easy to change the storage of the banknote recognition machine to a storage of a different capacity by attaching and detaching the storage of the banknote recognition machine in the market, but it is necessary to change the upper limit of the storage number corresponding to this with another ROM. Because there is no easy in the market.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet discriminator with a storage recognition function that can solve such a problem.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper sheet discriminating apparatus having a storage recognition function.
A paper sheet discriminator to which any one of a plurality of types of storages (02) having different numbers of stored paper sheets can be removably mounted, wherein the main body of the paper sheet discriminator (banknote discrimination) A predetermined portion (side wall surface 02) where the storage and the paper sheet discriminator main body face each other in a state where the storage mounted on the main body 01) is closed.
a, on the storage side of the inner side wall surface 01a, etc., means (detection piece 21) having information (such as a combination of the presence or absence of the slit SL) capable of specifying the type of storage (storage information ID).
) And means for reading this information on the side of the paper sheet discriminator main body (sensor 1 comprising a photo interrupter).
1, 12 and the microcomputer 14, etc., and stores the sheets corresponding to the read information from the table of the number of sheets stored in advance (storage upper limit value table TB) for each type of storage. The number of sheets (upper limit M of the number of stored sheets) is obtained, and the number of stored sheets is compared with the number of sheets actually stored in the storage to detect the fullness of the storage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper sheet identifying apparatus with the storage recognition function according to the first aspect, wherein the means having the information includes a type of the storage. Instead of having information capable of specifying the number of stored sheets, the means for reading the information reads this information, and the sheet discriminating machine reads the stored number of sheets corresponding to the read information and the number of sheets actually stored. The fullness of the storage is detected by comparing the number of sheets stored in the storage with the number of sheets stored in the storage.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper sheet identifying apparatus with the storage recognition function according to the first or second aspect, wherein the means having the information is provided by the storage itself. It is constituted so that it may also serve. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper sheet identifying apparatus with the storage recognition function according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the means for reading the information includes an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor. Or a mechanical switch.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper sheet discriminating apparatus with a storage recognition function according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. To be there.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a structural view of a main part of a bill validator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. 2B is a circled portion (a sensor # described later) of FIG.
FIG. C) is an enlarged view of the parts # 1, # 2 and the detection piece 21, and FIG. C) is a sensor # 1, # when the figure b) is viewed from the right side (front side).
FIG. 2 is a view including a cross section of the detection piece 2 and a detection piece 21 (that is, an enlarged front view including a cross section of a part of the portion A).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 01 denotes the main body of the bill validator,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a storage which is detachably mounted on the bill validator main body 01 via a mounting screw 22. The portion of the mounting screw 22 also serves as a rotation axis of the storage bin 02. By rotating the storage bin 02 around the mounting screw 22, the banknote identification machine main body 01 is rotated as shown by an arrow. It can be opened and closed. The storage bin 02 is normally closed as shown by the dashed line, and the storage of the identified banknotes becomes possible in the storage bin 02. When the storage bin 02 is full or the like, the storage bin 02 is opened as shown by the solid line, and the storage bin 02 is opened. 02 can be taken out to the outside.

Reference numeral 21 denotes the type of the storage box 02 (storage box information) mounted on the side wall surface 02a of the storage box 02.
Reference numerals 23 are detection pieces (see FIGS. B and c) for detecting the open state), and 23 are protrusions provided on the front surface of the storage box 02 for detecting the open / close state of the storage box 02. Next, 10 is a bill insertion slot provided on the front side of the bill validator main body 01,
11 is a side wall surface 01a inside the housing of the bill validator main body 01.
A first sensor (sensor #), which is provided on the top so as to allow light to pass or block by the detection piece 21 of the closed storage box 02, in this example, is a transmission type photo interrupter
1) (see FIGS. B) and c)), and 12 is also a sensor # 1.
Similarly to (11), this is a second sensor (also referred to as sensor # 2) formed of a transmissive photointerrupter provided on the bill validator main body 01 alongside the sensor # 1.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a third sensor (sensor) comprising a transmissive photo-interrupter, which is provided on the bill validator main body 01 so that light can be cut off by the above-mentioned projection 23 of the closed storage bin 02. # 14), 14 is incorporated in the bill validator main body 01 and controls a microcomputer (also abbreviated as MPU) for controlling the entire bill validator. 15 is a ROM belonging to the microcomputer 14;
4 belongs to the RAM.

In FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c), in this example, the detection piece 21 is a NO. 2 shows a case where the light projecting means PM in the transmission type photointerrupter constituting the sensors # 1 (11) and # 2 (12) is shown.
Since the slit SL of the detection piece 21 comes to the sensor # 1 (11) between the light receiving means RM and the light receiving means RM provided so as to receive the projection light of the light emitting means PM, The projection light passes through the slit SL and enters the light receiving means RM.
Is interposed as it is, so that the projection light of the light projecting means PM is blocked by the detection piece 21 and does not enter the light receiving means RM.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the type of the shape of the detection piece 21 and the type of the storage box 02 in the embodiment of FIG. The correlation among the detection piece shape, the sensor signal level, the storage information, the number of stored pieces, and the like is shown separately for 1 to 4, and FIG. This figure b)
As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, the shape of the detection piece 21 depends on whether or not the slit SL described in FIG. 1 is provided in each of the sensor facing portions 21a corresponding to the sensors # 1 and # 2 indicated by dotted lines. Then, as shown in FIG.
The type of the shape of the detection piece NO. There are four types, 1 to 4.

That is, the detection piece NO. Reference numeral 1 denotes a shape having no slit SL. In this case, the signal levels of the sensor # 1 and the sensor # 2 are both "L", and the storage as a code indicating the type of the storage 02 to which the detection piece 21 of this shape is attached. The information ID is 0, and the upper limit M of the number of stored sheets in the storage box 02 is 100. Similarly, the detection piece NO. 2 is a shape having only the slit SL corresponding to the sensor # 1,
In this case, the signal level of the sensor # 1 is "H",
2 is "L", and the storage information ID is 1
It is assumed that the upper limit M of the number of stored sheets is 200 sheets.

Similarly, the detection piece NO. Reference numeral 3 denotes a shape having only the slit SL corresponding to the sensor # 2. In this case, the signal level of the sensor # 1 is "L", the signal level of the sensor # 2 is "H", the storage information ID is 2, It is assumed that the stored number upper limit M is 300 sheets. Similarly, the detection piece N
O. Reference numeral 4 denotes a shape having both slits SL corresponding to the sensors # 1 and # 2. In this case, the signal levels of the sensors # 1 and # 2 are both "H", and the storage information ID
Is 3, and the upper limit M of the number of stored sheets is 400.

As described above, two sensors #
By arranging 1 (11) and sensor # 2 (12), it is possible to detect 4 = 2 ² types of storages, and in general, a detection piece that combines presence / absence of slit SL for each sensor. If n sensors are arranged in a box, 2 ⁿ types of storages can be detected. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main part of the microcomputer 14 in the bill validator main unit 01 of FIG. 1 and corresponds to FIG. In FIG. 3, the same steps as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same step numbers. In FIG. 3, new steps S21 to S24 are added to FIG. 4 and step S10 in FIG.
Has been replaced by step S25.

Next, FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. In the present invention, R
In a predetermined area of the OM 15, for example, an area at the head address of address 120, the storage number upper limit table TB in which the storage information ID according to the shape of the detection piece and the storage number upper limit M described in FIG. 2 are stored. And put. When the power is turned on,
The microcomputer 14 first detects the sensor # 3 (1
It is confirmed through 3) that the storage 02 is closed. Next, in step S21, sensor # 1 (11) and sensor # 2
The signal level of (12) is checked, and the storage information ID of the storage 02 is set in step S22. For example, if the signal levels of the sensor # 1 and the sensor # 2 are both “L”,
The storage information ID is set to 0.

After performing other initialization processing in step S1, the process waits in step S2 until a bill is inserted. When a bill is inserted in step S2 (branch Y), step S2 is executed in steps S23 and S24.
1, the same operation as S22 is repeated to update and set the storage information ID. This is because there is a possibility that the storage box 02 has been changed to one having a different number of stored sheets while the bill validator 01 is on standby.

Hereinafter, the banknotes are identified by the procedure of steps S3 to S9 as in FIG. 4, and the result is a genuine bill.
If there is no refund command and there is a payment command, the banknote is stored in storage 0
Store in 2. Then, the number of sheets stored in the storage box 02 so far is counted and updated, and stored in the α address of the RAM 16. In the next step S25, the storage information ID set in step S24 from the storage number upper limit value table TB in the ROM 15.
The value of the storage number upper limit value M corresponding to the value is searched for, and the obtained storage number upper limit value M is stored in the A register.

In the next step S11, it is determined whether or not the content of the A register (the upper limit of the number of stored sheets M) is larger than the content of the address α in the RAM (the stored number of sheets so far). If it is larger than the storage number up to (branch Y),
The process returns to step S2 and waits for the next bill insertion. On the other hand,
If the storage number upper limit value M is equal to or less than the storage number up to now (step S11, branch N), a full process is performed in step S12, acceptance of bills is prohibited, and an alarm is transmitted to the outside to store from the storage. Prompts the operator to remove bills.

In the above embodiment, the storage information ID indicating the type of the storage 02 is obtained from the signal levels of the sensors # 1 and # 2. Although the storage capacity upper limit M is obtained from the TB, if the following calculation is performed instead, the storage capacity upper limit M is directly obtained from the signal levels of the sensors # 1 and # 2.
Can be obtained.

That is, the signal level of each of the sensors # 1 and # 2 is set to 0 for "L" and 1 for "H", so that the sensor # 1 corresponds to the first digit and the sensor # 2 corresponds to the second digit. Assuming that the value of the binary number is B, the storage number upper limit M is given by the following equation.

[0030]

[Equation 1] Maximum number of stored sheets M [sheets] = (B + 1) × 100 In the above-described embodiment, as a means having information indicating the type of storage and the number of stored sheets, the presence or absence of a slit is combined for each sensor. Although a detection piece was used, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, such information is stored in the detecting piece 21.
In addition to the shape of the object as described above, it can be represented by a graphic pattern such as drawn characters, symbols, bar codes, or the like, or an engraved mark having such a graphic pattern. It can also be represented by a combination of materials having different properties. Further, instead of providing the means having the information in the storage, the housing itself of the storage can also serve as this means.

As for the means for reading the information, the transmission type photo interrupter in the above embodiment may be replaced with a reflection type photo interrupter. A magnetic sensor such as a Hall element, an oscillation coil whose oscillation frequency changes depending on the impedance of a nearby metal, a microswitch, and the like can also be used.

[0033]

According to the present invention, there is provided a paper sheet discriminating machine in which any of a plurality of types of storages having different numbers of stored paper sheets can be removably mounted. The presence or absence of a slit SL that can specify the type of the storage or the number of storages on a storage side of a predetermined portion where the storage and the paper sheet identification machine body face each other when the storage mounted on the storage is closed. In addition to providing means such as a detection piece 21 having information such as a combination of the above, and providing means such as sensors # 1 and # 2 for reading this information on the paper sheet discriminator body side, The storage number corresponding to the read information (that is, the storage number upper limit M that can be stored in the storage).
And the number of paper sheets actually stored in the storage is compared to detect that the storage is full. When the number of types is greatly reduced and the number of stored sheets needs to be changed in the market, only the storage needs to be changed, and it is not necessary to replace the entire paper sheet discriminating machine as in the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a bill validator as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of correspondence between types of shapes of detection pieces and types of storages in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a main part process of the microcomputer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a main part process of a microcomputer of a conventional bill validator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 paper sheet identification device main body 01a inner side wall surface 02 storage box 02a side wall surface 10 bill insertion slot 11 sensor # 1 12 sensor # 2 13 sensor # 3 14 microcomputer (MPU) 15 ROM 16 RAM 21 detection piece 21a sensor facing section 22 Mounting screw 23 Projection part PM Light emitting means RM Light receiving means SL Slit ID Storage information M Storage capacity upper limit TB Storage capacity upper limit table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A paper sheet discriminating machine in which any one of a plurality of types of storages having different numbers of stored paper sheets can be removably mounted. In a state where the mounted storage is closed, the storage and the sheet identification device main body are provided on a storage side of a predetermined portion facing each other with a unit having information capable of specifying the type of the storage, and a paper. A means for reading this information is provided on the body of the leaf discriminator, and the number of stored sheets corresponding to the read information is obtained from a table of the number of stored sheets for each type of storage stored in advance, A sheet recognition machine with a storage recognition function, which detects the fullness of the storage by comparing the number of stored papers with the number of sheets actually stored in the storage. 2. The paper sheet discriminating machine with a storage box recognizing function according to claim 1, wherein the means having the information has information capable of specifying the number of sheets to be stored instead of the type of the storage box. Means to read this information, and the sheet identification device compares the number of stored sheets corresponding to the read information with the number of sheets actually stored in the storage to store the information. A paper sheet discriminator with a storage recognition function, which detects a full state of the storage. 3. The paper sheet discriminating machine with a storage recognition function according to claim 1, wherein the storage itself is also used as the means having the information. Paper sheet identification machine. 4. The paper sheet discriminator with a storage recognition function according to claim 1, wherein the means for reading the information uses an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or a mechanical switch. Characteristic paper sheet identification machine with storage recognition function. 5. The paper sheet identification device with a storage recognition function according to claim 1, wherein said paper sheet is a bill. Machine.