JPS60118989A - Coin selector - 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 The present invention relates to a coin sorting device that determines the authenticity and type of coins, and more particularly to a coin sorting device that can self-set a coin determination reference value in a memory circuit by inserting a coin.

In coin sorting devices used in public telephones, vending machines, etc., a detection coil is generally installed along the coin trajectory, and changes in the alternating current magnetic field of the detection coil caused by coins passing through the coin trajectory are detected, and the amount of this change is measured. The authenticity and type of the inserted coin are determined by comparing it with a determination reference value set in advance for each type of coin in the four determination channels.

However, in the past, this judgment reference value was set in the judgment circuit based on data obtained by measuring each individual coin, so if the coin used was changed, the judgment reference value was set again for a new coin. It was very complicated because it required re-measurement and re-setting.

It is an object of the present invention to correct the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a coin sorting device that can self-set a judgment reference value just by inserting a coin, and can immediately respond to changes in the coins being used.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when a coin passes in front of a detection coil mounted so as to face the coin trajectory, the electrical change caused by the coin is detected in the detection coil. detecting the coin with the means and outputting a coin information signal about the coin, storing the coin information signal in a first storage means, and sequentially inputting the coin information stored in the first storage means to the crushing means. A determination reference value is calculated, the result of the calculation is updated and stored in a second storage means by the control means, and a first memory of the updated determination reference value and the newly inserted coin is stored in the second storage means. The determination means stores the coin information in the means and compares it with the coin information, and determines the authenticity and type of the newly inserted coin.By inserting the coin, the determination means self-sets the determination reference value and determines the coin. It is intended to make it possible to

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram without showing the coin trajectory. In the figure, reference numeral 11 indicates a coin trajectory. Coin track 3111 is the third
As shown in the figure, a cover 13 is attached to the upper surface of the substrate 12, which is inclined with respect to the vertical, and is parallel to the cover 13 at a predetermined distance, and a rail 14 for guiding coins is attached to the lower surface of the cover 13. It is installed at an angle to the horizon.

The coins C inserted from this lζ slot 15 are transferred to the board 1.
2, the ventral surface C- is in contact with the upper surface of the rail 2, and the peripheral end surface C'' is in contact with the rail 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the coin track 11 is bent in the shape of the character "<", and at the end of the sorting track 11a in the upper half, unsuitable coins are removed from the track and dropped into the return port 16. A waste removal lever 17 is provided.

That is, as shown in FIG.
8 and protrudes into the sorting track 11a. When one electromagnet is energized, its magnetic force is generated in a direction that cancels out the attractive force of the permanent magnet 18. Therefore, the coins push away the tip 17a of the removal lever 17, advance to the storage track 11b, and are stored in the storage track 111).

A pair of thickness detection coils T' and material detection coils M' are disposed at a position close to the input port 15 of the sorting track 11a, facing each other at a predetermined distance in the coin thickness direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the thickness detection coil T'
3, and the material detection coil M' is mounted on the upper surface side of the substrate 12, facing the thickness detection coil T' (
). A pair of 17-shape detection coils T' and material detection coils M'G are placed close to the rail 14 so as to be covered by the regular coins of the minimum diameter that are thrown in, as shown in FIG. ing.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for sorting coins using detection coils T# and M'.

In FIG. 6, 20 is an oscillator that generates a rectangular wave oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency, and 21 is a frequency divider.

The thickness detection coil T' is excited by a rectangular wave signal of a predetermined frequency from the frequency divider 21, which divides the rectangular wave oscillation signal of the oscillator 20, and generates an alternating current magnetic field. Coil M' is excited by this alternating magnetic field and produces an induced voltage. The thickness detection coil T' forms a parallel resonant circuit with the capacitor 22, and when no coin is present, the output voltage appearing at both ends of the coil is maximized in tune with the frequency from the frequency divider 21. When a coin passes between the thickness detection coil T' and the material detection coil M', the impedance of the thickness detection coil T' changes and goes out of tune, causing the output voltage to drop. As shown in FIG. 3, this impedance change is larger as the distance from the surface of the coin C to the thickness detection coil T' is smaller, that is, the thicker the coin C is. The output voltage decreases as the thickness increases.

Similarly, the material detection coil M' forms a parallel resonant circuit with the conan 1 23, and the output voltage is maximum when there is no coin, and the coin is connected to the thickness detection coil T' and the material detection coil M'. When the material detection coil M' passes through the gap, the impedance change of the material detection coil M' causes the tuning to be lost, and the output horn voltage decreases. Roughly, the material detection coil M' is the thickness detection coil T.
' is excited and generates an induced voltage, so when a coin passes between the material detection coil M' and the thickness detection coil T', the excitation voltage applied to the thickness detection coil T' decreases, and the coin's Due to the difference in material and thickness, the alternating magnetic field that reaches the material detection coil M' changes, and the induced voltage generated in the material detection coil M' decreases.

24 is a resistor, and 25 and 26 are thickness detection coils T.
', an AC amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the material detection coil M'; 27.28 is an AC amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the material detection coil M'; This is a sample and hold circuit that samples and holds the output signal of 25 and 26 and converts it into a DC signal.

30 receives a signal "1" from the boat P30 of the determination circuit 31, which will be described later, converts the analog voltage output from the sample bold circuit 27 into a digital value, and converts it into a digital value.
It is an A/D converter that receives the signal II HI+ from the sample hold circuit 31 and converts the analog voltage output from the sample hold circuit 28 into a digital value and outputs the digital value.

31 sends two types of digital value coin information signals regarding thickness and material from the A/D converter 30 to boats P60 to P6.
3 and P70 to P73, detect the lowest value for each of the two types of signals, calculate a determination reference value based on the lowest value, and determine the pre-stored determination criteria for the thickness and material of the regular coin. The authenticity and type of the coin are determined by comparing the coin with the value, and if it is a genuine coin, the boat p2
This is a judgment circuit which outputs a proper signal ``TODO'' from 2 and enables the coin to pass through the removal lever 17.

32 is a transistor that becomes conductive in response to the appropriate signal from the determination circuit 31; 33 is a protective diode; when the transistor 32 becomes conductive in response to the appropriate signal "'l-1" from the determination circuit 31, the The electromagnet 19 is energized, allowing the coin to pass through the removal lever 17.

Reference numerals 34 indicate baud 1 to P50 to P53 and P40 to P43 of the determination circuit 31 in order to instruct the determination circuit 31 to perform various processes.
Output switch information to each switch SO~S
1, and a display 35 that displays signals based on signals from baud 1-PO2 and PO3 of the determination circuit 31.

FIG. 7 shows the processing instructions for the switches SO to S7. In Figure 7, (a), (b), (C), (
'd) column displays the read data, χ (average value of Iζ digital value output for each coin), σ (standard deviation), A (average 1 + ((maximum value of fluctuation in coins)), respectively. When displaying on the container 35, (e), (f >,
Columns (g) and (1)) indicate coin types C1 and C2, respectively.
, C3, C4 settings 111 (rewrite, (+>
indicates cancellation of setting mode.

Unless the determination reference value is self-set by inserting a coin into the determination circuit 31, the setting mode is canceled by setting the switch information to P2O to 111 I+ as shown in the bottom row (i) of FIG.

Note that P2O of the determination circuit 31 inputs the output signal Lc of the lean pull hold circuit 27 to the A/D converter 30,
Baud 1 to output a signal to start A/D conversion
It is. Similarly, P31 (sample and hold circuit 28
This port inputs the output signal M to the A/D converter 30 and outputs a signal for starting Δ/D conversion. P
ol is the digital signal T'D1.ol output from the A/D converter 30 when the A/D conversion is completed. This port is used to input an A/D conversion completion signal for inputting , and Moo to the determination circuit 31. peo~P63 and P2O-P7
3 is an A/D converted 8-bit digital signal layer and M9. .

There is a boat to enter.

P22 is a boat that sends out a signal to control the transistor 32 that drives the electromagnet 19 of the exclusion lever 17.

P40 to P43 and p50 to P53 are ports into which switch information SO to S1 from the setting circuit 34 is input.

PO2 and PO3 are ports for outputting display contents to the display of the setting circuit 34.

As shown in FIG. 8, the determination circuit 31 includes a first storage circuit 41 that reads coin information signals T and M, which are digital signals regarding the thickness and material of the coin, from the A/D converter 30; A second storage circuit 42 that stores judgment reference values, and a Tc program and various reference values set in advance.
I, Ml, T.

Based on the fixed record 4aIilil path 43 in which M is stored, and the reading of the digital signal output from the A/D converter 30 based on the program, calculation of the judgment reference value, setting of the judgment reference value, and the accuracy of the judgment reference value. In the old days, it was equipped with an arithmetic and control unit 44 that controlled the judgment of input coins and materials.

The above standard 1mK is for regular coins or pseudo coins,
This is a value for detecting that the inserted coin has passed through the detection coils T'1, M', and the inserted coin has passed through the detection coils T', M'.
It is sufficient to set the value to a value slightly smaller than the output value of the A/D converter 30 when it is not at the position M''.
1. Ml is the upper limit for the thickness and material of the coin, respectively.
This is an initial setting value indicating the lower limit tolerance range. Also TI,
Ml is A when the inserted coin passes through coils T', M;
This value is set in advance as the maximum value in order to store the minimum value of the output digital value of the /D converter 30.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 10 is a time chart.

In the figure, <a> is a rectangular wave signal sent from the frequency divider 21 to the thickness detection coil T, and (b) is the sample hold circuit 2.
This is a sampling pulse of the same frequency sent to 7.28.

The high frequency component of the rectangular wave is removed from the thickness detection coil T by the resonance circuit with the capacitor 22, and a sine wave signal is output. The solid line in FIG. 2C shows the output signal of the AC amplifier 25. The amplitude of this sine wave signal becomes smaller while the coin passes through the thickness detection coil Ruby and the material detection coil M' (indicated by the symbol "A" in FIG. 10).

The sample and hold circuit 27 samples and holds the level of this sine wave signal using the sampling pulse shown in (b), thereby converting it into a change in DC voltage as shown by the chain line (0) in FIG.

The output signal of the material detection coil M' has a sine wave voltage that decreases depending on the material and thickness of the coin when the coin passes through it, and similarly passes through the AC amplifier 26 and is output to the sample hold circuit 28, where the AC voltage is The change is converted into a change in DC voltage. The solid line in FIG. 10(d) shows the output signal of the AC amplifier 26, and the chain rA shows the output signal of the sample and hold circuit 28 (#A).

The A/D converter 30 includes sample and hold circuits 27 and 2.
8, two types of output signal holes. and M into two types of digital signals, and Mtl. The determination circuit 31
/2 types of digital signals from the D converter 30)8. and M, the lowest 10 degrees of 1 degree are detected, and the lowest values of these two types are detected. And Ml is compared with the values of two types of digital signals regarding regular coins stored in advance, and rIII! Determine the authenticity and type of coins,
In the case of a regular coin, a proper signal is output to the 1-transistor 32 to make the transistor 32 conductive for a certain period of time, thereby energizing the electromagnet 19 so that the coin pushes away the tip 17a of the removal lever 17 and passes J'. enable.

FIG. 10(C) shows a signal for driving the transistor 32.

The processing order of the determination circuit 31 is programmed to follow the flowchart shown in FIG.

The processing details will be explained below using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, each switch SO to S7 of the setting circuit 34 is operated to select the ports P50 to p53 and p40 to P43 of the determination circuit 31.
The switch information to is not shown in FIG. 7 and is set to one of (a) to (i).

First, if it is not the setting mode, that is, the setting circuit 34
A case will be explained in which all the switches SO to S7 are turned off.

When the power is turned on for the first time, 1! I! The determination circuit 31 is initial reset at 10'O. In process 101, T+, M are stored in the fixed storage circuit 43 in advance.
The fixed numerical values of each set value of s, T, , M are calculated based on
KX of the first register g1 circuit 41
, Tlx, Mlx, 1-s, and Ms addresses, respectively. Next, in process 102, a 'H' signal is output from baud 1 to p30, and the sample hold circuit 27
When the output signal of is input to the A/D converter 30, the A/D
Conversion begins. At decision 103, the A/D conversion ends by going through a loop until the boat P01 becomes "todo".

When the boat poi addition 111-bi' is reached, in process 104, the digital signal T5. ．． The digital value (TO) is read and stored in the -1-X address of the first register 4a@path 41. When it is remembered, the boat P30 is set to 'L' in process 105.

Then, the Δ/D conversion is completed.

Judgment 106 is based on the /j digital value (TX) currently stored at the Tx address and the constant (KX) read out from the fixed storage circuit 43 in process 101 and stored in the first storage circuit 41.
). If no coins are inserted, the digital value (
Since TX > is larger than the constant (KX), the process returns to step 102 and the coin is inserted. When a coin is inserted,
When the coin passes through the detection circle T, the output voltage air of the sample and hold circuit 27 decreases. Then, A/D
Output digital signal hole 0 of converter 30. The digital value (To) also decreases in proportion to this. Constant (KX
) is set to a value slightly smaller than the digital value when no coin is in front of the detection coil T, as shown in FIG. 9, the digital signal T50. When the digital value (To > becomes less than or equal to <Kx), it is determined that a coin has been inserted.

If the determination 106 is YES, the digital value (To
) is stored at address Tx in the memory circuit 41. In process 101, +! is added to the T1X address of the memory circuit 41. [! Since the stored digital value T1 initially contains all 1's, the answer is YES in step 111, and in process 112, the digital value (To) stored at the Tx address is stored at the T1x address.

Processes 113 to 118 are similar to processes 107 to 112, and read a digital value (Mo) related to the material and increment it by 2 to the MIX address. Judgment 119 is a digital value (
If (TX) is significantly lower than (Kx), that is, when the coin is applied to the thickness detection coil T, processing is repeated from step 107. Judgment 111 compares the previous digital value of T with the currently input digital value, and if the now input digital value is smaller than the previous digital value, the minimum value is stored in the T1x address by rewriting it to a smaller value. be done. Similarly, by decision 117, the minimum value of the digital value Mo is stored in the Mlxlt location.

That is, the digital values of the minimum voltage indicated by the dotted lines (C) and ((1) in FIG. 10 are stored at addresses TIX and M1x, respectively.

If the determination 119 is YES, that is, the coin has a thickness of coil T.
If it passes through, the process proceeds to determination 120. Since it is not in the setting mode, the switch SO of the setting circuit 34 is OFF.
The determination is N, O, and processing 121 is performed. Processing 12
1 outputs the digital values of Tlx and Mix addresses from PO2 and PO3 to the display. Next, judgment 122 is TIX
It is determined whether the digital value at address M1x is within the upper and lower limit setting values for T and M stored at the TS-MS address, and if YES, the transistor 32 is set to II H11 for a certain period of time by setting the port P22 to II H11. is driven to energize the electromagnet 19. For this reason, the coin is removed from the removal lever 1.
7 and advances to the storage track 11b.

If NO't', the boat p22 does not become 'H', so the coin is removed from the sorting track 11a by the tip 17a of the removal lever 17 and returns to the beginning of the process 101.

Next, the processing when the setting mode is set will be explained.

To enter the setting mode, set the setting circuit 3 as shown in Figure 7.
4. Operate the switch SO to change the switch information to P2O to ``(''''. For example, if you want to change the data for a certain coin C1, change the other information as shown in column C) in Figure 7. Switch information to be input to each boat is determined by operating switches 81 to S7.

In this setting mode, the steps 101 to 119 proceed as described above, but since the boat p50 is "1", the decision 120 is YES.

Process 124 is < T 1x), the average value of (MIX) (i.e., the average value according to the U number of coins inserted after entering the setting mode,
Therefore, in the −th input, (T IX) and (Mix) are themselves. > is calculated by H1, and in the case of rewriting process 125I, since boats p51 and p52 are "]"", (
(See Figure 7), location]! [! Proceeding to step 128, Δ (maximum variation from the average value χ, A=3σ) for the thickness T and material M of the coin is determined by the needle tube J'. In process 129, PO2, PO
3, the values of each A for the thickness Ta2 and material M are displayed and output. In the case of jujube, boat P53 is H'', so the process proceeds to process 131.

For example, in the case of rewriting about coin C1, boat P
40 is H'', the process proceeds to step 135 and rewrites each determination reference value (upper limit value χ+A and lower limit value 7-A) for T and M.In the case of coins C2, C3, and C4, processing is performed respectively. Proceed to 136.137.138, coins C2, C3
, C4 are rearranged. When the rewriting is completed, the process returns to the beginning of process 101, and the process is repeated.

In this way, each time a plurality of coins of the same type are sequentially inserted, the digital values regarding the thickness T and material M are read, and D, σ, and A for each number of coins are sequentially calculated, and the judgment reference value is calculated. While there is a change in the upper limit value χ10 and the lower limit value 1111X-A, the upper limit value and lower limit value are rewritten each time the input is made.

During this rewriting operation, if you want to temporarily interrupt the rewriting and display the read coin information of the read/υ thickness T and material M on the display, as shown in Figure 7. Boats P51 and P52 are set by the switch of circuit 34 to
If the input to ``L'' is set to ``L'', the process goes through conditions 126 and 140 to process 1!l! 141, and display outputs are generated from boats PO2 and p03. Boat p51 + L ++
, it will be displayed if you turn P52 to 6゛H''' (142
). Similarly, if you want to display σ, set boat p51 to "'I" and P52 to "L" (139). If you want to display A, boat p
If 53 is set to "L++", the process goes to No under condition 130. Therefore, when rewriting is performed by inserting coins one after another during white blank replacement, you can operate the setting mode switch at any time to σ, A, etc. are displayed, and if there is no change in these values, coin insertion is stopped and the rewriting operation is completed.

After completing the data setting work in this way, operate the switch of the setting circuit 34 to set ports 1-P2O to 'L'.
When the setting mode is canceled by returning to ``, the process advances from condition 120 to condition 121, and normal determination processing is performed.

In this way, by sequentially inserting coins of the same type until there is no change in the content display, the judgment reference value of the judgment circuit 31 is automatically set and stored or rewritten. After that, the coins may be judged based on the judgment reference value set as follows.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
If the coin C1 is changed and the output of the A/D converter 30 for tU quality M decreases as shown in (a), then this By continuously inserting changed 7j coins C1, , σ, and A are calculated, and the judgment reference values in the second storage circuit 42 are MSI',
It is automatically rewritten to MS'2'.

Note that this program can store judgment reference values for four types of coins, C1, C2, C3, and C4, but it is also possible to store judgment reference values for four or more types of coins by increasing the memory contents.

As explained above, in the coin sorting device of the present invention, since the judgment reference value to be set in the judgment circuit is automatically set by sequentially inserting coins of the same type, self-setting of the judgment reference value is possible. In addition, when changing the coin used, it can be automatically rewritten by inserting a coin.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for clearly explaining the structure of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic front view showing the arrangement of a detection coil etc. in a coin track according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-I in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along Block diagram showing the configuration,
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of processing depending on the state of the switch of the setting circuit 34, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the determination circuit 31, FIG. 10
The figure shows the operation of the circuit in Figure 6.
Figure 1 shows the flowchart 17 according to the processing order. 11... Coin trajectory, 11a... Sorting trajectory, 1 lb... Accumulation trajectory, 12......
Board, 13...Cover, 14...Rail, 1 -, Input port, 16...Return port,
17...Exclusion lever, 17a...Tip, 18...Permanent magnet, 19...Electromagnet, 27.28...Sample hold circuit, 3
o... A''/D converter, 31... Judgment circuit, 34... Setting circuit, 35... Display unit, 41...・First memory circuit, 42...
...Second memory circuit, 43...Fixed memory circuit,
44... Arithmetic control unit, T'... Thickness detection coil, M'-material detection coil. Patent Applicant Anritsu Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Makoto Hayakawa Tadayu 1 Figure 2 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A detection coil that is installed so as to face a coin trajectory and is caused to undergo an electrical change by a coin passing through the coin trajectory; and a detection coil that detects an electrical change in the detection coil and outputs a coin information signal. a detection means; a first storage means for storing the coin information signal; and a first storage means for storing the coin information signal.
The coin information signal stored in the storage means of
IIIT When changing the coin sorting range, using the coin information signal as data, calculating a judgment reference value for setting the coin sorting range, and outputting it as a judgment reference signal; a second memory for storing the judgment reference signal output from the calculation means;
storage means; and an operation of the second storage means for an IC that rewrites the judgment reference signal already stored in the second storage means with a new judgment reference signal obtained by the calculation means. a control means for controlling; the new determination reference signal stored in the second storage means;
A coin comprising determination means for comparing the new coin information signal with respect to a coin that causes a new electrical change in the detection coil to determine the authenticity and type of the coin corresponding to the new coin information signal. Sorting device.