JPS6231391B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention uses a single coin discrimination device to determine the authenticity of coins of multiple denominations inserted through a single coin slot, and determines the authenticity of the coins as "true" coins. The present invention relates to a coin device that sorts and counts accepted coins by denomination.

(Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention) This type of coin device uses one coin discrimination device to determine the authenticity of coins of multiple denominations, and then sort the coins into denominations based on their diameter. Detect and count the
It is now on hold for a while.

Therefore, if a coin is judged to be a "true" coin and is accepted, but it is incorrectly sorted during sorting, or if it is misjudged and sorted, either the seller or the purchaser will suffer a loss. , causing trouble.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In view of the above, the present invention has an object to detect a discrepancy between the coin determination result and the coin distribution and to smoothly resolve this type of trouble. With the goal.

That is, the present invention includes a coin discrimination device 3 that discriminates the authenticity of inserted coins by denomination and outputs a signal indicating the authenticity of each denomination, and a first counter that counts the output signals of the coin discrimination device 3. 14A, 14B...
, a coin sorting device 5 that sorts the coins sent out from the coin discriminating device 3 by denomination, each coin detector 8A, 8B, etc. that detects passage of coins sorted by the coin sorting device 5, and Second counters 15A, 15B, etc. that count the output signals of the coin detectors, and the number of coins of each coin denomination output from the coin discrimination device 3 via the first counter, and the number of coins of each coin denomination output from the coin detector 3 via the second counter. This coin device is characterized by being provided with comparison circuits 16A, 16B, . . . which input and compare the number of coins of each coin denomination to be output, and output match/mismatch signals.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the examples shown in the drawings. 1 is a customer service side of an automatic ticket vending machine, 2 is a coin slot provided on this customer service side, and 3 is a coin inserted through this slot. A coin identification device that distinguishes the authenticity of coins.
For "fake" coins, return them to return path 4 and return them to "true" coins.
The coins are linearly extended to the coin rolling path of the coin discriminating device 3, guided to the sorting path of the coin sorting device 5, and at the same time output signals 3a, 3b, and 3c indicating the denomination of the coin determined to be true. .

Coin falling windows 6A, 6B, and 6C that match the diameter of the coins are provided in the passage of the coin sorting device 5, and each coin falling window 6A, 6B, and 6C
Fall passages 7A, 7B, and 7C are connected to the windows to guide coins falling down from the windows downward. These falling passages 7A, 7B, and 7C are provided with photodetectors 8A, 8B, and 8C for detecting coins.

Below these falling passages 7A, 7B, and 7C is a temporary holding device 9 that temporarily holds the coins that have been dropped.
A, 9B, and 9C are provided, and when returning coins, these temporary holding devices 9A, 9B, and 9C drop the coins pooled here onto the endless belt 10 and return them to the tray 11 on the customer service surface, and when storing the coins, they collect the coins as change. It is configured to drop coins into a dispensing device (hopper type, cylinder type) 12 and a safe 13.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a coin device with this configuration, and each time the coin discrimination device 3 discriminates a coin, it sends signals 3a, 3b, and 3b indicating the denomination of the coin (for example, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen). 3c is as described above, and the detectors 8A, 8B, 8
C outputs signals 8a, 8b, 8c every time a coin is detected.
Output.

Signals 14A, 14B, and 14C are signals 14a, 14b, and 14C that count coins by denomination and indicate the counted value using signals 3a, 3b, and 3c output from the coin discrimination device 3, respectively.
1st counter outputting 14c, 15A, 15
B, 15C are signals 15a, 15b, 15c which count the coins by denomination and indicate the counted value using the signals 8a, 8b, 8c output from the detectors 8A, 8B, 8C.
The second counter outputs the first counter 14A, 14B, 14C and the second counter 1.
5A, 15B, and 15C are cleared by the signal L output when the sale is completed or when the next customer inserts the first coin.

16A compares the signal 14a and the signal 15a and finds a coincidence signal 16a, "count value of signal 14a>signal 1".
A discrepancy signal 16a' indicating "count value of 5a", "signal
16B is a comparison circuit similar to the above comparison circuit that compares signal 14b and signal 15b, and 16C is signal 14c and signal 15c.
This is a comparison circuit similar to the comparison circuit described above.

The coincidence signals 16a, 16b, 16c are output when the coins are correctly determined and sorted, and the disagreement signals 16a', 16b', 16c' are output as the coincidence signals 16a, 16b, 16c'.
16b, 16c are outputting, until the signals 3a, 3b, 3c output from the coin discrimination device 3 are counted and the signals 8a, 8b, 8c output from the detectors 8A, 8B, 8C are counted, Output.

When the coin is misjudged and correctly sorted, and when the coin isjudged properly and missorted, among the discrepancy signals 16a', 16b', and 16c', the signal from the comparison circuit corresponding to the signal output from the coin discrimination device 3 is output. Only the signal continues to be output, and the mismatch signal 16a'',
Of 16b'' and 16c'', only the signal from the comparator circuit corresponding to the signal output from the detector at this time continues to be output.

After this, when a coin is inserted, judged to be normal, and sorted, the defective signal is cleared and output again. Of course, the signal may continue to be output without being cleared. Note that the counter and comparison circuit constitute a determination circuit 19 that determines whether coins are misjudged or distributed.

17 is an abnormality detection circuit that outputs an abnormal signal 17a when any of the mismatch signals 16a'', 16b'', 16c'' is output; 18 is a signal 16a', 16a''1
This is a decoder which outputs signals 18a, . . . indicating which denomination of coins have been mistakenly sorted to where by inputting signals 6b', 16b'', 16c', and 16c''.

In such a configuration, when a coin, for example, a 10 yen coin, is inserted from the coin input slot 2, the coin discrimination device 3
The coin is authenticated and determined to be a "true" coin, and at the same time the coin discrimination device 3 outputs a signal 3c indicating a 10 yen coin, the coin is sent to the passage of the coin sorting device 5 and is divided into 10 yen coins. Coin fall window 6C (50
Since the height of the yen coin falling window 6A and the 100 yen coin falling window 6B is lower than the diameter of the 10 yen coin, the 10 yen coin passes through the windows 6A and 6B) and falls into the falling passage 7C. The coins are guided, detected by a 10 yen coin detector 8C, and pooled in a 10 yen coin tube 9C of a temporary holding device.

The first counter 14C counts the number of coins and outputs the signal 14c based on the signal 3c, and the second counter 15C counts the number of coins and outputs the signal 15c based on the signal 8c, and both signals are sent to the comparison circuit 16C. When the 10 yen coin is compared and matches, a match signal 16c is output, and it is detected that the 10 yen coin has been legitimately determined and sorted. Subsequently, when a 10 yen coin is inserted, it is detected in the same manner as above. If a 50 yen or 100 yen coin is inserted, it will be detected in the same manner as above.

On the other hand, a 100 yen coin is inserted into the coin discrimination device 3.
The material and form are inspected electrically and magnetically.
If the 100 yen coin is determined to be a 100 yen coin and falls over the window 6B for 100 yen coins and falls into the window 6C for 10 coins, the count value of the second counter 15C is higher than the count value of the first counter 14C. Since the difference signal 16 is large, the comparison circuit 16C outputs the mismatch signal 16.
Since the count value of the second counter 15B is smaller than the count value of the first counter 14B, a mismatch signal 16b' is output from the comparison circuit 16B. At the same time as the signal 17a is output, the decoder 1
8 to indicate its incorrect condition; i.e.
A signal indicating that the 100 yen coin is counted as a 10 yen coin is output. After this, when a 10 yen coin is inserted and is correctly determined and sorted, the mismatch signal 16c'' is temporarily not output, but the mismatch signal 16c'' is immediately output. Furthermore, if a 100 yen coin is inserted and correctly determined and sorted, the mismatch signal 16b' continues to be output and the abnormal state remains unchanged. Even if a 50 yen coin is missorted, it can be detected in the same way as in the case of a 100 yen coin.

In addition, the coin recognition device 3 may make an erroneous judgment, for example, 100 coins.
The yen coin was determined to be a 10 yen coin, and this 100 yen coin
100 yen after falling through the coin fall window 7B for 100 yen coins
If it is detected as a yen coin, the comparison circuit will not be able to find a match, so it is possible to know that there is an abnormality. In addition,
A 100 yen coin and a 10
Since yen coins rarely tip over, false detections caused by signals from the 50 yen coin detector can be omitted. Further, the detector may be provided near the entrance of the coin falling window of the sorting passage 5, and erroneous sorting may be detected by the signal from the detector. Further, the coin number signal may be converted into an amount of money, and then the amount of money may be counted and compared by coin denomination.

In the above embodiment, the determination circuit is composed of a counter and a comparison circuit, but it is not limited to this. It may be configured accordingly. In Figure 3,
30 is a reversible counter which outputs a signal 30a indicating that the coins are being counted when the coins are being added and counted according to the signal output from the coin discrimination device 3, and which outputs a signal 30a indicating that the coins are being counted. 8A, 8B, 8
When a signal from any one of C) is input through the AND circuit 31, the signal 30a is subtracted and when the counted value becomes zero, the signal 30a is no longer output. If a coin is erroneously sorted, the signal 30a is not output, so when the coin is detected by the detector 8, the AND circuit 32 outputs an abnormality signal 32a, which is stored in the memory circuit 33.

In the case of this embodiment, if coins of the same type are not continuously inserted, each coin is judged one by one, and missorting is determined depending on whether the signal from the detector or the coin discrimination device comes first. , the determination circuit described in the present invention includes these.

The coin denomination match/mismatch signal from the determination circuit not only informs of an abnormality as in the embodiment, but also is input to the control circuit to perform appropriate control, such as a signal to close the coin slot or a signal to close the coin slot. This signal is used as a signal to return the coins temporarily held in the temporary holding devices 9A, 9B, and 9C to the receiving tray.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the number of coins counted by the signal output from the coin discrimination device and the signal output from the detector after being accepted are By comparing the number of coins to be counted by coin denomination and detecting whether the number of coins counted on the detector side matches or mismatches, it is possible to prevent misjudgment of authenticity by the coin identification device, Misjudgment and misclassification by the passing detector can be easily and reliably detected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the coin device according to the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic side view, FIG. 2 is a block diagram, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment. In the figure, 3: Coin discrimination device, 5: Coin sorting device, 6A, 6B, 6C: Coin fall window, 7A, 7
B, 7C: Falling path, 8A, 8B, 8C: Coin detector, 14A, 14B, 14C: First counter, 15A, 15B, 15C: Second counter,
16A, 16B, 16C: Comparison circuit, 19: Judgment circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coin discrimination device 3 that discriminates the authenticity of inserted coins by denomination and outputs a signal indicating the authenticity of each denomination, and first counters 14A, 14B that count the output signals of the coin discrimination device 3. , a coin sorting device 5 that sorts the coins sent out from the coin discriminating device 3 by denomination, each coin detector 8A, 8B, etc. that detects passage of coins sorted by the coin sorting device 5, and Second counters 15A, 15B that count the output signals of the coin detectors...
and the number of coins of each coin denomination outputted from the coin discrimination device 3 via the first counter and the number of coins of each coin denomination outputted from the coin detector via the second counter and compared. and match,
Comparison circuits 16A, 16B that output mismatch signals...
A coin device comprising: