JP2922764B2 - Coin discriminator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of discriminating apparatus, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-44770 has been known.
This device irradiates a long slit light in the thickness direction of the coin to the outer peripheral surface of the coin, and obtains the reflected light, thereby engraving a type of unevenness formed on the side surface of the coin, for example, a 500 yen coin. This is to determine whether the coin is a striped irregularity (hereinafter, referred to as “jagged”) along the thickness direction of a 500 won coin.

[0003]

However, in this discriminating apparatus, in order to discriminate whether the outer peripheral surface of the coin is a stamp or a knurl, the coin is irradiated with a long slit light in the thickness direction of the coin. There is a drawback that it is necessary to detect, and the configuration for this tends to be complicated. That is, as a configuration for forming slit light, a laser oscillator,
Since a beam expander, a slit, and the like are required, the number of components increases and the cost increases.

In the case of slit light, the amount of light is reduced, and the detection signal detected by the detecting means tends to be relatively small. Furthermore, since the coin itself is a single color, there is an inconvenience that a distinct difference in amplitude appearing in the detection signal hardly appears due to the uneven shape of the outer peripheral surface of the coin. As a result, for example, a 500 yen coin is
The detection signal shown in FIG. 5 is generated, and the 500 won coin generates the detection signal shown in FIG. According to this, the two detection signals are very similar, and it is difficult to determine this. For example, in order to distinguish between the two detection signals, a method of setting a predetermined reference level and judging the type of the effect by the number of times the detection signal exceeds the reference level can be considered. In the output waveform, it is difficult to set a reference level that can clearly determine these. Further, in order to obtain a detection signal having a high SN ratio and an amplitude equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a method of improving the accuracy of the optical system may be considered, but there is a disadvantage that the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a coin discriminating apparatus which can clearly discriminate a difference between a knurl and an engraved mark with a simple apparatus configuration.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a coin transport path for moving coins in a radial direction, the coin transport path being directed toward an outer peripheral surface of a conveyed coin. A light emitting means for irradiating light from a radial direction intersecting the moving direction; and a light reflected by two adjacent areas of the outer peripheral surface of the coin out of the light emitted by the light emitting means. and has a coin discriminating apparatus comprising a determining means for determining the type of coin, based on the difference between the detection signals from two places of the light receiving portion of the light receiving means and, the light receiving means for receiving, respectively, in the light receiving portion of the two positions adjacent to the Has been proposed.

[0007]

According to the coin discriminating apparatus of the present invention, when the light emitting means is operated, light is incident on the outer peripheral surface of the coin from a radial direction intersecting the moving direction. The incident light is reflected by the outer peripheral surface of the coin, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving means. Since the light receiving means is provided with two light receiving portions adjacent to each other in the moving direction of the coin, reflected light from portions adjacent to the moving direction on the outer peripheral surface of the coin is detected by the separate light receiving portions. . When the difference between the detection signals at the two light receiving sections is calculated by the discriminating means, when the concave portion and the convex portion are adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the coin in the moving direction, the difference between the light receiving signals becomes apparent. Will be done.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the coin discriminating apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed outside the coin transport path 2 and extends along the optical axis L at an angle of, for example, 35 ° with respect to the coin C transport direction. A light source 3 for irradiating light, a light receiving sensor 4 also disposed outside the coin transport path 2 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the coin C, and a light receiving sensor 4 and the coin transport path 2 Lens 5 arranged on
And a judging means 6 connected to the light receiving sensor 4 for judging the type of the coin C from the detection signal.

The coin transport path 2 is provided with a coin transport means (not shown) which sandwiches the coin C in a thickness direction by a belt (not shown) or the like and transports the coin C while preventing its rotation. It can be moved along one direction.

The light source 3 is, for example, an LED. The light receiving sensor 4 is, for example, a photodiode and outputs a light receiving signal having an amplitude corresponding to the amount of reflected light to be received. The light receiving sensor 4 includes two light receiving portions 4a adjacent to each other along the moving direction of the coin C by the coin transport means.
4b so that each of the light receiving sections 4a and 4b can independently output a detection signal. These light receiving sections 4a and 4b are, as shown in FIG.
The reflected light from the adjacent areas A and B on the outer peripheral surface of the coin C can be detected. Here, in the present embodiment, since the coin C to be discriminated is particularly a 500 yen coin and a 500 won coin, the area A
- Of the B, at least one, it is preferably formed in area to the extent that is completely contained 500 won coin in the recess C ₁ Giza formed on the outer circumferential surface of the. The position of the lens 5 is adjusted so that light emitted from the light source 3 and reflected on the outer peripheral surface of the coin C is collected and focused on the light receiving sensor 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the discriminating means 6 includes a differential amplifying unit 6a to which detection signals output from the respective light receiving units 4a and 4b of the light receiving sensor 4 are input, and a differential amplifying unit 6
a amplifying section 6b for amplifying the output signal a, a full-wave rectifying section 6c for rectifying the amplified output signal, a comparing section 6d for comparing the rectified result with a reference signal, and the type of the coin C according to the comparison result. And a judgment unit 6e for judging. Reference numeral 6f is a reference signal source that sends a reference signal to the comparison unit 6d.

The differential amplifier 6a includes two light receiving sections 4
The difference between the detection signals received by a and 4b is calculated.
As described above, the detection signals received by the two light receiving units 4a and 4b respectively detect the reflected light from the two adjacent areas A and B on the outer peripheral surface of the coin C, and thus the differential amplifier 6a Has the light quantity level of the difference between the reflected light from these areas A and B.

The comparing section 6d compares the output signal rectified by the full-wave rectifying section 6c with a reference signal preset in a reference signal source 6f to determine the number of output signals exceeding the reference signal. Is counted. The determining unit 6e determines whether the coin C is a 500 yen coin or a 500 won coin based on the number of output signals greater than the level of the reference signal output from the comparing unit 6d. It has become.

The operation of the coin discriminating apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described below. First, a case where the coin C conveyed on the coin conveyance path 2 is a 500 won coin will be described. When the incident light from the light source 3 irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the coin C conveyed in the coin conveyance path 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the areas A and B (the area A is a dark part, the area B is a bright part). The light reflected from the light receiving portions 4a and 4b is respectively detected by the light receiving portions 4a and 4b. Then, an output signal having the light amount level of the difference between these detection signals is output by the differential amplifier 6a. When the coin C is further moved and the area B becomes a dark area and the area A becomes a light area, an output signal having a sign opposite to that described above is output from the differential amplifier 6a. As a result, an output signal having an AC waveform whose sign changes alternately and regularly is output from the differential amplifying unit 6a.

The output signal of the AC waveform is supplied to an AC amplifier 6.
after being amplified uniformly through b, by being passed through a full wave rectifier 6c, as shown in FIG. 3, it is converted into a pulse train P ₁ having a positive sign. Then, the comparison unit 6d
Thus, the number of pulses exceeding the reference signal D is counted, and when the number of pulses exceeds a predetermined number, the determination unit 6e determines that the coin is a 500 won coin.

On the other hand, in the case of a 500-yen coin, since the outer peripheral surface of the coin C is relatively flat and is only engraved, the difference between the reflected light from the two adjacent areas A and B is different. , Resulting in a low light level. Therefore, the differential amplifier 6
The output signal from a will be a slightly irregular AC waveform formed by the imprint. This output signal is 500
For Wong coins and in the same manner, the amplified in the AC amplifying portion 6b full-wave rectifier 6c, it is rectified into a pulse train P ₂ shown in FIG. Thereafter, the number of pulses exceeding the reference signal D is counted in the comparison unit 6d. In this case, the pulse size of the 500-yen coin is generally smaller than that of the 500-won coin.
It is easy to set the value of the reference signal D to a value that is higher than most pulses of the 00 yen coin and lower than many pulses of the 500 won coin. Reliable discrimination by the coin determination unit 6e becomes possible.

Therefore, according to the coin discriminating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a reliable coin C can be obtained by a simple apparatus without using high-precision means such as a high-precision optical system or the use of slit light by a laser. A determination can be made. Also, adjacent areas A and B on the outer peripheral surface of the coin C
Is detected and the type of the coin C is determined based on the difference between them, so that the change in the detection signal due to the circular shape of the coin C is eliminated and the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the coin C is reduced. Only the shape change along the direction can be extracted. As a result, coins C having different outer peripheral shapes, for example,
The 500 yen coin and the 500 won coin can be clearly distinguished.

The coin discriminating apparatus 1 of this embodiment discriminates the type of the coin C based on whether or not the outer peripheral surface of the coin C is smooth. Cannot be applied. In this case,
When used in combination with another discriminating device such as for discriminating the external dimensions of the coin C, it is possible to reliably discriminate the type including such a coin C.

[0019]

As described in detail above, the coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention is a light emitting means for emitting light from a radial direction intersecting the moving direction toward the outer peripheral surface of a coin conveyed on the coin conveying path. And light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the outer peripheral surface of the coin at two light receiving portions adjacent in the moving direction of the coin, and discriminating means for judging the type of the coin based on a difference between detection signals from the light receiving portions. Therefore, by extracting only the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface of the coin and making the difference apparent, it is possible to easily and reliably determine the type of the coin.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing one detection area by a light receiving sensor of the coin discriminating apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detection signal of a 500 won coin by the coin discriminating apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detection signal of a 500 yen coin by the coin discriminating apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a detection signal of a 500-yen coin by a conventional coin discriminating apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detection signal of a 500 won coin by a conventional coin discriminating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C coin 1 coin discriminating device 2 coin transport path 3 light source (light emitting means) 4 light receiving sensor (light receiving means) 4a / 4b light receiving section 6 discriminating means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light emitting means provided on a coin transport path for moving coins in a radial direction and irradiating light from a radial direction intersecting the moving direction toward the outer peripheral surface of the coin being transported on the coin transport path; Of the light emitted by the light emitting means , adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the coin.
The reflected light reflected at the two contacting regions is
It in the light receiving portion of the two positions adjacent to the moving direction of the coin
A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a light receiving means for receiving light; and a discriminating means for judging a type of a coin based on a difference between detection signals from two light receiving portions of the light receiving means.