JPS58181186A - Coin cashing controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a change dispensing control device configured to store the collected coins in a predetermined coin storage cylinder and, when dispensing change, dispense the coins stored in the cylinder in a timely manner according to the amount of change. .

Coin counting control devices, which are generally used in vending machines, etc., sort coins by an attached coin sorting machine and pass them through coin passages for each denomination into coin storage tubes (provided for each denomination). The received coins are received and stored in the cylinder, and the received coins are detected by the coin detection sensors installed in the coin passages for each denomination, and the number of coins to be inserted is counted and inserted for each denomination based on the output signal. Calculating the amount. This input amount is compared with the preset selling price of the product to determine whether the sale is possible, and if the input amount matches or exceeds the selling price, a sales signal (vent) is sent to the main body of the vending machine. signal). 10,000, the vending machine main unit that inputs this sales signal becomes ready to sell and performs the sales operation according to the customer's selection, outputs the sales start signal to the coin counting control device, and after the sales operation ends. returns to standby state.

When the device receives this sales start signal, it calculates the amount of change from the input amount and the selling price.If the selling price of 1 is set, a selection signal corresponding to the customer's selection is input from the main unit, and this The amount of change is calculated based on the signal), and the coin dispensing control device is driven to dispense coins corresponding to the amount of change from the coin storage cylinder. Further, if the return button is operated after inserting a coin, the amount of the inserted amount is paid out from the coin storage cylinder.

The coin argument control device that counts the coins and drives the coin dispensing control device to dispense the coins at the time of dispensing change or returning the coins, is capable of dispensing the coins guided into each coin storage cylinder via the coin sorting machine. It is controlled on the premise that it is definitely genuine currency. However, this assumption is starting to break down in order to prevent miscounting of input amounts as described below. In other words, the coin sorting machines used in vending machines, etc., sort genuine and counterfeit coins as well as denominations in a very small space, so it is not always possible to completely eliminate counterfeit coins. I can't say that. Therefore, if a counterfeit coin is accepted as a genuine coin and is led to a coin storage cylinder through a coin passage for each denomination, it will be detected by a coin detection sensor installed in the coin passage. This counterfeit currency is added to the input amount to determine whether or not it can be sold, so even though the input amount is actually insufficient, the sales signal is output as described above and the sale is made possible. This may cause problems.

The coin sorter accepts counterfeit coins because the physical characteristics of the counterfeit coins are very similar to genuine coins in terms of the coin sorter's selection requirements (e.g. external shape and coefficient of repulsion). In a coin sorting machine with limited installation space, it is impossible to add a new sorting means for sorting out such counterfeit coins. Therefore, an electrical detection sensor is used as a coin detection sensor installed in the coin passage that guides coins to the coin storage cylinder of the coin dispensing control device, and takes advantage of the different physical properties of genuine and counterfeit coins, such as the difference in conductivity. All measures have been devised to prevent the occurrence of miscounting of the input amount as described above by making it sensitive to genuine coins and not sensitive to counterfeit coins. For example, by using a sensor that is not sensitive to counterfeit coins made with a specific four-way pattern different from genuine coins and does not output a predetermined detection signal, it is possible to prevent counterfeit coins from being stored. The purpose is to accurately count the number of coins and calculate the amount of money inserted without detecting even if the coins are introduced into the tube. By using a coin detection sensor that is not sensitive to such counterfeit coins, fraudulent acts using counterfeit coins can be reliably prevented.

Incidentally, the change or refund is paid out by confirming that the coins have been paid out by the coin payout control device, and then subtracting the change from the change or refund amount until the change or refund amount becomes zero. However, in the conventional coin counting control device, whether or not a coin has been dispensed from the coin dispensing control device is indirectly confirmed by detecting the operation of the dispensing mechanism of the coin dispensing control device. As mentioned above, when counterfeit coins are stored in the coin storage cylinder, a problem arises in that the counterfeit coins are dispensed as change or refund as the dispensing operation is repeated, and the counterfeit coins are dispensed in the vending machine (5), etc. This will lead to increased distrust.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coin dispensing control device that solves this problem and enables reliable change dispensing. The purpose of this is to provide a coin storage tube for each denomination that stores coins sorted by a coin sorter, a coin dispensing mechanism section that dispenses coins from the lower part of the coin storage tube, and a dispensing signal to the coin dispensing mechanism section when coins are dispensed. a coin dispensing control unit that outputs a coin to perform a dispensing operation; a coin detection sensor that electrically inspects the properties of the coin dispensed from the coin storage tube; and a coin detection sensor that determines genuine coins based on the detection output of the coin detection sensor. and a determining section that outputs a recognition signal to the coin dispensing control section at each time, and is configured to control the dispensing operation of the coin dispensing section based on the coin signal.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 (at and (bl) are front views of the main parts of a coin counting control device which is an example of the present invention, fig. is a coin counting control device and 2 is a coin sorting machine. 6) The inserted coins undergo a predetermined sorting process, are sorted by denomination, and are guided, for example, through the passageway 21 to the coin storage tube 5 of the coin dispensing control device 4 located on the front side of the coin counting control device 1. The coins pass through the side of the first coin detection sensor 6 disposed in the passage 3 and are stored in the cylinder.This coin detection sensor 6 is, for example, excited by alternating current to form a certain magnetic path in the cylinder, and the coins are This is a coil that causes an impedance change when the coin passes through its magnetic path.Since the impedance change of the coil varies depending on the material of the coin (e.g. conductivity), a first determination section (not shown) detects this impedance change. It determines whether the coin is genuine or counterfeit based on the degree of change, and if it is a genuine coin, it outputs a detection (addition) signal for counting to the calculation section.
This is known from Japanese Patent No. 72498.

10,000 coins received through the coin passage 3 are stored in the coin storage cylinder 5 regardless of whether they are genuine or counterfeit coins, and when change is to be paid out, the coins are collected as follows based on the change payout command. The payout control device 4 operates and the coins are paid out starting from the lowest coin.

First, in the normal state (standby), the protrusion 71 of the coin dispensing mechanism protrudes into the coin storage cylinder 5, so the coins CI are held by the protrusion 7a and accumulated in the cylinder, and from then on, the coins CI are inserted. The coins C2 and C3 are stacked and stored in sequence on top of the previously inserted coins as shown in Figure m1.Then, when a change payout command is issued, the coin payout mechanism of the coin payout control device 4 (not shown) The solenoid is energized, the protrusion 7b is protruded into the coin storage tube 5 to hold the coin c2, and the protrusion 7b is depressed to dispense only the coin c1, and then the solenoid is de-energized again and the protrusion 7b is held. The released coin C2 is received by the protrusion 7a (FIG. (b)), and one payout operation is completed.

This type of dispensing mechanism is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-52594. - The coin c1 dispensed from the coin storage tube 5 changes the impedance of the second coin detection sensor 8, which is the same type as the first coin detection sensor 6 described above and is provided on the wall surface of the exit portion of the coin storage tube. Based on this impedance change, a second determining section (not shown) determines authenticity. When the determination unit @2 determines that the coin is a genuine coin, it outputs a genuine coin confirmation signal, and this signal confirms the dispensing of the genuine coin. 〇 Figure 2 shows the Zrock line showing the configuration of the coin dispensing device 4. In the figure, the coin dispensing mechanism section 8 denoted by 7 is the second coin detection sensor shown in FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a second determination unit that determines whether a coin is genuine or false based on the impedance change of the coin detection sensor 8; IO is a payout control unit that controls the payout operation of the coin payout control device 4; and 11 is a unit that calculates the amount of change and dispenses change. A calculation unit that outputs a command to the dispensing control unit 10, 12 and 13 are the first
and a second timer. The change payout control operation will be explained in detail below based on the flowchart (K) shown in Figure 1g3.

When a change payout command is input on Stella '7'100,
The calculation unit 1 calculates the amount of change based on the amount of money input by the customer and the price of the sold product, and then calculates the amount of change from the coin storage tube 5. ii!
IJ' The number of coins to be paid out N (for example, N-2) is determined (9
) Ru. The number information determined by this calculation unit 11 is
At step 01, this payout number N(-2) is set in the counter built in the payout control section 10 of the coin payout control device 4. In step 102, the count content n of the counter is O.
Since 1-=2 now, the process moves to step 103 and outputs a payout signal to the coin payout mechanism section 7, and at the same time, the first and second timers 12,
Press 13 to start timing. The first timer 12 is set to the time T1 required for one payout operation by the coin payout mechanism section 7, and outputs a T1 end signal to the payout control section 10 when this T1 time is counted. In addition, the second timer 13 measures the time (T2
This is a timer for checking the coins dispensed in one dispensing operation and limiting the time to 5 hours. The setting time of the two timers is TI<'r
The relationship is set to 2.

Then, in response to the dispensing signal, the coin dispensing mechanism section 7 excites the solenoid to cause the protrusions 7b and 7a to appear and retract, thereby dispensing the coin C1. In step 104, the first timer 1
The presence or absence of the Tl end signal from 2 is checked, and if ψ has not been input yet, the process proceeds to step 106.

Coin dispensing ltl The coin C1 dispensed by the drive of the L mechanism section 7 is detected by the second coin detection sensor 8, and if it is determined to be a genuine coin based on the impedance change, the coin C1 is dispensed by the second determination section 9. The detection signal is cleared lJ3
Since it is output to the L control section 10, the process moves from step 106 to step 1.07-, and its detection memory is set. 7. At step 108, T from the second timer 13
The presence or absence of the T1 end signal is checked, and since TI<T2, the same as the T1 end signal has not been input, the process returns to step 104 and the presence or absence of the T1 end signal is checked again. If the Tl end signal has been output, the process advances to step 105 and output of the payout command is stopped. As a result, in the coin dispensing mechanism section 7, the solenoid is de-energized and the coin C2 is moved to the lowest dispensing position as shown in FIG. - 10,000, payout control unit 1
゜Proceeds from step 105 to step 106, and again in step 108, whether directly or via preparation 107, the presence or absence of the T2 end signal from the second timer 13 is checked, and if this signal is input, Then proceed to Step 109.

In step 109, it is checked whether or not the genuine coin confirmation signal from the determination unit 9 described above is stored, and if the detection memory is set in step 107, the process advances to step 110 and the count content n of the counter is checked. Subtract "1" from (=2), reset the two timers at the same time, return to size M], 02, and finish dispensing one specie coin.

In step 102, the count content of the counter is n ”e O
Therefore, in step 103, a payout command is again output to the coin payout mechanism section 7, and the coin C2 is paid out in the same manner as the coin C1. Here, coin C2
Next, the control operation of the payout control unit 100 will be explained in the case where the coin is a counterfeit coin.

When the coin C2 is dispensed from the coin storage cylinder 5 by the dispensing signal output in Step 103, the coin C2 is dispensed from the coin storage cylinder 5.
It should be detected by the second coin sensor 8 in the same way as in case 1.

However, as mentioned above in T2, this coin detection sensor 8 indicates the difference in material by the degree of change in impedance, so the second determination unit 9 determines that the coin C2 is a counterfeit coin based on the change in impedance. Remove the detection signal a
'I (-No output to control unit IO. Therefore, step 106 jumps to step 108 to check whether the T2 end signal has been input. If before 12 hours have elapsed, step 106 returns to step 108.
Return to step 104. Then, if the T2 end signal is output after the timing of the first and second timers 12 and 13 is completed and the T1 end signal is output, the process proceeds from step 104 to step 105, The payout signal is stopped and the coin payout mechanism section 7 returns to the standby state.

- 10,000, the payout control unit 10 proceeds from step 106 to steps 108 and 109, checks whether the confirmation signal from step 107 is stored, and determines that the coin C2 is a counterfeit coin and a confirmation signal is output from fiI9. Therefore, the process returns from step 109 to step 102. Therefore, the count n of the counter still remains at "1" (13), and the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103 to perform the payout operation of the third coin C3.

Assuming that the coin C3 is a genuine coin, the payout control operation is similar to that for the coin C1, so we will omit the redundant explanation.
The explanation will be given assuming that the process proceeds from step 8 to step 109.

Since the coin C3 is a genuine coin and the 8 recognition signal from the second determination section 9 is stored in step 107,
As a result of the determination in step 9, the process proceeds to step 110, where "1" is subtracted from the count value n (=1) of the counter,
When n=O, the process returns to step 102. Therefore, the result of the determination in step 102 (whether the counter number n is O or not) is YB2, and the coin dispensing control device 4 finishes dispensing change, outputs a completion signal from the dispensing control unit IO to the calculation unit 11, and waits. @ operation ffB that becomes the state
When 11 inputs this end signal, it subtracts the amount of coins that have been paid out from the previous amount of change, and uses the result as a new amount of change for coins of other denominations ((14) above). It determines the number of coins to be paid (coins of a lower denomination than the amount of coins) and outputs a change payout command to that effect to a corresponding coin payout control device (not shown). In this way, change is paid out sequentially starting from the highest denomination, and when the change amount reaches 0, the coin division control device enters a standby state.

In addition, the calculation unit determines the number of change to be paid out for each denomination in advance and outputs information on the number of coins to be paid out to each fishing gun dispensing device. It is also possible to send a payout command and each device may be configured to perform payout in a chain by using a completion signal from the device that has finished payout as a payout command.

As described above, according to the present invention, a coin detection sensor that is not sensitive to counterfeit coins is provided at the outlet of the coin storage tube, and the coins dispensed from the coin storage tube are determined to be genuine or fake. Since only the coins are counted as dispensed coins, there is an advantage that the correct amount of change can be dispensed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 (al and (bl) is a front view of main parts of a coin counting control device showing one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing the configuration of a coin dispensing control device, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a coin dispensing control device. It is a flowchart diagram showing the control operation of the device in Figure 2. 5... Coin storage tube, 7... Coin dispensing mechanism section, 8
... second coin detection sensor, 9 ... second determination section,
10:... Coin payout control unit, 12... First timer, 13... Second timer. fz illustrator 3 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A coin storage tube for each denomination that stores coins sorted by a coin sorter, a coin dispensing mechanism section that dispenses coins from the lower part of the coin storage tube, and a dispensing signal to the coin dispensing mechanism section when coins are dispensed. A coin dispensing control unit that outputs a value to perform a dispensing operation, a coin detection sensor that electrically inspects the properties of the coin dispensed from the coin storage tube, and a coin detection sensor that detects genuine coins based on the detection output of the corpse coin detection sensor. A coin dispensing control device comprising: a determination section that makes a determination and outputs a confirmation signal to the coin dispensing control section, and is configured to control a dispensing operation of a coin dispensing mechanism section based on the confirmation signal.