JPS61201397A - Optical type building counter - 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] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an optical bill counter that counts bills such as banknotes and checks using an optical sensor. The present invention relates to an optical bill counter that automatically changes the base line for ticket detection when the card is detected.

(Conventional technology) Optical bill counters commonly used in banks, etc.
The schematic mechanism is as shown in FIG.

That is, when a ticket body 10 such as a banknote, a check, or a gift certificate is placed in the box 1 and a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the delivery gear 2 provided at the bottom of the box 1 rotates to release the ticket. The bodies 10 are sequentially fed into the passage 8 one by one.

An optical sensor 4 is installed in the middle of the passage 3, and has a light-receiving element 5 and a light-emitting element 6 arranged facing each other with a passage 8 in between. The number of tickets 10 sent into the passage 8 is counted based on the output signal of the light receiving element 5 when passing. This counting operation is performed by an electric circuit (for example, a microcomputer) not shown, and the counting results are displayed on a predetermined display.

The ticket 10 that has passed through the optical sensor ♦ is sent to a discharge a-y 9 by rollers 7.8, and is discharged into the stocker 11 by blades 9a provided radially around the outer periphery of the discharge rotor 9.

Further, the optical sensors 4 are usually provided in two sets (indicated by 4+a+4b in FIG. 5) at symmetrical positions with the center line of the passage 8 in between, and each is configured to perform detection independently. There is.

This means that the counting operation of the ticket body 10 is controlled by the output signal level of the optical sensor 4 (that is, the light reception signal level of the light receiving element 5).
This is because the determination is made based on whether or not the value falls within a predetermined range above and below the reference level B□.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, if one ticket 10 passes through the optical sensor 4 between time t□ and t2,
Since the pattern drawn on the ticket body 10 is the same for all ticket bodies, the lid that blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 6 is designed to match the IM of the pattern.
It changes depending on the color, and the pattern of change is the same for all bills.

Therefore, if the lowest value L of the light reception signal level while the ticket body 10 passes the optical sensor 4 is set as the reference level, the light reception signal level near the reference level L0 will be output after the light interruption starts. By this, it is possible to detect that one ticket 10 has passed.

However, since the left and right sides of the ticket body 10 have different patterns, if the left and right sides of each ticket body are not aligned when placing the ticket body 10 in the box 1, the change pattern of the received light signal level will be different. As mentioned above, two sets of optical sensors 4a
, 4b, the ticket body 10 can be used as an optical sensor 4a.
* When passing through 4b, a light reception signal near the reference level L0 is always output from one of the optical sensors, and accurate counting can be performed.

Furthermore, by providing two sets of optical sensors 4a and 4b, when the ticket body 10 is fed diagonally as shown in FIG. Detect. Furthermore, when two tickets are sent overlapping, the light reception signal Repelka becomes significantly lower than the standard level L□, so by distinguishing this, it is also possible to detect "two tickets stacked". There is.

The optical sensor (light emitting element 1z and light receiving element 1B) provided in box l in FIG. 4 is for detecting whether or not the ticket body 10 is present in box 1.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional optical bill counter has a configuration in which the user manually sets and switches the base level L□ using a manual changeover switch such as an attenuator. was.

That is, in advance, the type of ticket to be counted (for example,
In response to the case where the amount varies depending on the amount of money (as in the case of Japanese tourist tickets), a circuit is built in that selectively generates the reference levels L(1) to L(fnl) of the ring number, and this is connected to an attenuator, etc. The configuration is such that it can be changed using a changeover switch.

For this reason, whenever the type of ticket body is changed, the reference level L□ must be changed manually each time, which is cumbersome, and if you forget this setting, This was inconvenient because it caused malfunctions (inaccurate counting values, inability to detect "two sheets stacked").

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes means shown in FIG.

The optical sensor 102 is disposed in the passage 101 into which the ticket bodies 100 are sequentially fed, and includes a light emitting element 108 and a light receiving element 10.

The ticket passage detection means 105 detects the start and end of passage when the ticket 100 fed into the passage 101 passes through the optical sensor 102 .

The minimum value detection means 106 determines the minimum value of the light reception signal level of the light receiving element 10 from when the ticket 100 starts passing through the optical sensor 102 until it ends passing through the optical sensor 102.

The first ticket determining means 107 determines whether the outer body 100 passing the optical sensor 102 is the first ticket after the ticket counting operation starts.

The reference level storage means 108 stores the minimum value detection means 106 when the first ticket passes the optical sensor 102.
The minimum value of the received light signal level determined by is stored as a reference level.

The received light signal level determination means 109 is an optical sensor 102
When the ticket 100 passing through is the second or subsequent one, it is determined whether the minimum value of the received light signal level determined by the minimum value detection means 106 is within a predetermined range above and below the reference level. Discern.

The count value incrementing means 110 includes the received light signal level determining means 10
9, when it is determined that the minimum value of the received light signal level is within a predetermined range above and below the reference level, the count value of the ticket body is incremented.

(Function) The initial ticket discrimination means 107 and the reference level storage means 108 determine that the minimum value of the received light signal level obtained by the ticket that passes the optical sensor 102 for the first time after the ticket counting operation is started is set as the reference level. is stored as.

Thereafter, each time the ticket 100 passes the optical sensor 102, the minimum value of the received light signal level determined by the minimum value detection means 106 and the above reference level are compared by the received light signal level determination means 109, and this judgment is made. The count value is incremented based on.

Therefore, even if the type of ticket 100 is changed, when the first ticket passes the optical sensor 102, the reference level for the demolition 100 to be counted is automatically set. The trouble of manually switching the reference level is eliminated, and the reference level is always set to an appropriate value (even if the optical sensor 102 has deteriorated over time, the reference level is set in this state). Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the occurrence of malfunctions.

(Real example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The ticket feeding mechanism in this embodiment is the same as the conventional example shown in FIG. 4, so the same figure is also used.

The two sets of optical sensors 4a' and 4b and their surrounding control circuits are configured as shown in FIG.

This control circuit %20 is mainly composed of a micro combinator z5, and this microcomputer z5 is
In addition to the counting process described later, it performs processing related to the operation of the optical building counter, such as dimming processing of the optical sensor.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, various human output signal lines are connected.

In each of the two sets of optical sensors 4a and 4b, a latch 23a *2:
3b and drive circuits 2+a and 24b are provided, and the light receiving elements 5a and 5b have an increase of 119% 1ff21a.

21b and comparators 22a and 22b are provided.

The latches 28a and 28b receive light emission level data Lt fat supplied from the microcomputer 25.

This circuit latches Ltfbl and supplies the latched light emission level data to the drive circuits 24a and 24b.

The drive circuits 24a, 24b are the latch 23a.

A current corresponding to the magnitude of the light emission level data given from 28b is given to the light emitting elements 6a + 6b.

In this embodiment, the light emission level data that can be generated by the microcomputer 25 is 0.1.2, 4.8°9, A, O,
It is set in 11 stages using hexadecimal data of D, E, and F.

The drive circuits 24a and 24b supply the following current to the light emitting element 6a at each stage.

Give to 6b.

Light emission level data Current 0 →
10 ; nA l → 12 mA 2 → 14 mA 4 → 16 mA 3 → 18 mA 9 → 20 mA A → 22 mA C → 24 mA D -26 mA E → 28 mA F → 80 mA However, the ratings of light emitting elements 6a and 6b Current up to 50 m
Must be A or higher. In this case, at a current value near the maximum, L
Since the ID causes saturation (the change in the amount of light is small even when the current '4 is changed), it is necessary to select a current value that causes a linear change in the amount of light.

The light emitting elements 6a and 6b used here are of a long wavelength type, such as infrared light emitting diodes. Correspondingly, the light receiving elements 5a and 5b are of a long wavelength response type, such as solar cells (silicon photocells).

This is because building counters are often used in places where fluorescent lamp light is used as illumination light, such as in offices, so the structure is designed to prevent noise even if illumination light enters the building counter. It is.

The outputs of the light receiving elements 5a and 5b are amplified by amplifiers 21a+21b and then sent to a comparator 22a.

22b.

The comparators Z2a and 22b are configured with, for example, a parallel comparison type A/D converter circuit, and the amplification afZla
, the level of the light reception signal output from 21b is set to 1 of 0 to 8.
Zero-decimal data (this is referred to as "received light signal level data")
Convert to In this example, the received light signal level (1
The relationship between the pressure level) and the output data of the comparators 22a and Z2b is set as follows.

Light receiving signal level Output data 0.4v or less → 0 0.4~0.8V → 10.8
~1.2V 4 21.2 ~1
．． 6V 4 81.6~2. O.V.
-h +2.0 ~2.4V
-e 52.4~2.8 ■
→ 62.8~3.2v →
7 10 V or more → 8 Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the counting process among the processes executed in the microcomputer 25.

This counting process is executed when the counting operation of the optical bill counter of this embodiment is started (when a predetermined start button is turned on). Further, the count value M is reset (M=0) by the user turning on a predetermined reset button.

When the counting operation is started and the counting process starts, first, by the process of step 81, the optical sensor 4a is
A process is performed to determine that the ticket IO starts passing through +4b.

This means that when there is no object between the optical sensors +a and 4b, the received light signal level L (at , L (b
As shown in the highest level "8", lr r is the optical sensor 4a.
, 4b are dimmed, so the received light signal level is
When the object (i.e. ticket body) becomes smaller than "8", that is, "7" or less, the optical sensor 4♂,
It is determined that the virus has invaded 4b.

Here, since two sets of optical sensors are provided,
When either one of the light reception signal levels becomes "7" or lower, it is determined that the ticket has started passing.

When the start of ticket passage is detected, the two light reception signal levels Lr(at
, Lr(b), and select the smaller one (r min (Lr(a), Lr(b)).
"tefi'b)" is temporarily stored as the detected value of the light reception signal level at that point in time (this is referred to as the "detection level") L8.

In the next step 38, this detection level Ls is temporarily set to the minimum value of the received light signal level (this is referred to as the "minimum level").
Lm engineer. It is temporarily stored.

After that, the received light signal level L (a), Lr f again
bl is read and the read light reception signal level L r
(a) Determine whether either +L or fbl has reached "8" (step 84), thereby
Detects the end of passage of the ticket.

Here, if the ticket body 10 is still in the state of passing through the optical sensors 4a+4b, the determination in step 84 becomes No, and the process in step 85
Two received light signal levels L (at, Lr
The smaller of fbl is set as the detection level Ls.

Then, in the process of the next step 86, the step 88
A comparison is made between the minimum level LWin stored in step 85 and the detection level Ls obtained in step 85, and Ls<Lm
Engineering. If so, the minimum level Lmi is set by the process of step 83. Update the value of

In other words, if L8<Loiyu, the detection level obtained in step 85 is smaller than the detection level Ls obtained in step 82, and as a result, the value of the minimum level Lmin up to this point is lower than the detection level Ls obtained in step 82. Among the received light signal levels L (a) and L (b) read in, r
It becomes the smallest value of r. Note that in step 86, L
If s≧Lmin, Lmi. will not be updated.

Thereafter, the minimum level Lmin is updated until the determination in step 8/8 becomes YES, that is, until the ticket 1O finishes passing through the optical sensors 4a and 4b.

Here, as an example, a change pattern of the light reception signal level as shown in the WLa diagram is obtained in either one of the optical sensors, and the smallest light reception signal level from the start of passage of the ticket 10 to the end of passage is Assume that it is "8".

When the ticket body 10 completes one pass, the determination in step 84 is YE.
When S is reached, it is determined in step 87 whether or not the static object that has passed through the optical sensors 4a and 4b is the first ticket after the start of the counting operation. This is, for example,
The determination is made based on whether the value of the count value M is roJ.

Here, if it is determined that it is the first ticket, the above-mentioned minimum level Lrn processing is performed by the process of step 40. The value of is replaced with the base level L0. After that, step 3
In step 9, the count value M is incremented (ie, M=1).

Thereafter, when the second ticket passes through the optical sensors 4a and 4b, it is set to the minimum level Lm through the processes of steps 32, 133, 84, and 35°36. is required.

Then, by the process of step 88, the above 2
Minimum level in the th ticket -, Y and step 4 above
It is determined whether the absolute value of the difference from the reference level L□ stored as 0 is within Lebel.

That is, since the reference level L is "8", the minimum level Lm is set. is between rzJ and "4", the judgment is Y
It becomes ES.

Here, if the second ticket passed is of the same type as the first ticket, the minimum level -1° should be approximately equal to the base and bell L, so it is extremely accurate. detection can be performed. The same process is performed for the eighth and subsequent tickets, and the number M of tickets is incremented.

By the way, if for some reason two or more tickets are fed into the aisle 8 at the same time,
Since the amount of light shielded when passing through the optical sensors Φa and 4bQ is larger than that of a single piece of abrasion, the required minimum level "rn"
i. is $uglier and much smaller than Bell L.

Therefore, in this case, the determination at step 88 is No, the occurrence of an error is displayed on a predetermined display (step +1), and the counting operation is stopped.

Further, when a different type of ticket is sent to the passage 8, the minimum level Lrn1n does not satisfy the condition of step 88, so an error is displayed and the operation is stopped.

-11, after the counting of the bills is finished, the count value M
If you press the reset button and clear the count value M, even if you count a different type of ticket next time, the base value L will be set according to the first ticket, so you can use the conventional method. This eliminates the need to manually switch the reference level, which is convenient.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above in detail, the present invention sets the minimum value of the light reception signal level by the ticket body that first passes the optical sensor after starting the counting operation force of the ticket body as the base level. By using this method, there is no need to set the reference level by operating a changeover switch such as an attenuator every time the type of ticket object to be counted changes, which may result in incorrect setting of the reference level. Therefore, accurate counting can always be performed.

In addition, it is possible to accurately detect "two stacked tickets" and "different types of tickets", thereby further improving the counting accuracy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an optical sensor and peripheral control circuits in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a process executed by the microcomputer in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the ticket feeding mechanism of the optical bill counter and the arrangement of the optical sensor; Figure 5 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the ticket and the optical sensor. , FIG. 6 is a diagram showing changes in the light reception signal level when the ticket passes through the optical sensor. 101... Passage 102... Optical sensor 103... Light emitting element 104... Light reception Element 105... Bill passing detection means 106... Minimum value detection means 107... Initial bill discriminating means 108... Reference level storage means 109... Light received signal level discriminating means 110... Count value Stepping means 3... Passages 4.4a, 4h... Optical sensors 555a, 5b... Light receiving elements 6.6a, 6b...
Light emitting element 10...Ticket body 20...Control circuits 21a, 21b...Amplifiers 22a, 22b...Comparator 25...Drive circuit L(a), Lfb)...Light reception signal level (data ) r r LIn... Minimum value of light-receiving signal level L□... Reference level M... Count value Figure 2 Figure 3 ffXf-7 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Tickets such as banknotes and checks are sequentially sent into a passageway in which an optical sensor consisting of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element is arranged, and based on the detection signal of the optical sensor, the bills that have passed through the passageway are detected. An optical bill counter for counting the number of bills, comprising: a bill passing detection means for detecting the start and end of passage when the bill fed into the passageway passes the optical sensor; minimum value detection means for determining the minimum value of the light reception signal level of the light receiving element from the start of passing through the optical sensor until the end of passing through the optical sensor; an initial ticket identification means for determining whether or not it is a first ticket; and a minimum light reception signal level determined by the minimum value detection means when the first ticket passes an optical sensor. a reference level storage means for storing a value as a reference level; and when a second or subsequent ticket passes the optical sensor, the minimum value of the received light signal level determined by the minimum value detection means is determined to be the minimum value of the light reception signal level determined by the minimum value detection means; a received light signal level determining means for determining whether the value is within a predetermined range above and below the reference level; and a minimum value of the received light signal level is determined by the received light signal level determining means to be a value within the predetermined range above and below the reference level. 1. An optical bill counter comprising: count value incrementing means for incrementing a count value of a ticket when it is determined that 2. Two sets of the optical sensors are arranged in the passage at symmetrical positions with the center line of the passage in between, and the minimum value detection means is configured to detect two sets of optical sensors obtained from the two sets of optical sensors. The optical building counter according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum value of the received light signal levels is determined. 3. The light reception signal level determining means notifies that an abnormality has occurred if the minimum value of the light reception signal level determined by the minimum value detection means is not within a predetermined range above and below the reference level. An optical bill counter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: