JP3464812B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recycle type coin which can automatically perform coin deposit and withdrawal processing at a financial institution such as a bank. It relates to a processing device. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a financial institution such as a bank is provided with a coin processing device for automatically performing a deposit and withdrawal process of coins. Identification is performed, and stored in each denomination safe, at the time of withdrawal, take out coins of the required denomination from this denomination safe,
A recirculation type coin processing device that pays out after authenticity or denomination is discriminated is used. [0003] In such a coin processing apparatus, the same identification processing is performed for coins that have been inserted from the outside, such as at the time of depositing, and also at the time of identifying coins already identified in detail, such as at the time of dispensing. Was. In other words, both at the time of payment and at the time of payment, identification is performed using all the same identification elements. [0004] As the identification element, detection of the material of a coin,
There are outer diameter detection and shape detection. Material detection is usually performed with a magnetic sensor, but a magnetic sensor of the transmitted magnetic flux detection type is often used. With this magnetic sensor, not only the material but also the thickness and area of the detection data can be obtained. Sensor. In many cases, a photoelectric conversion element (CCD type line sensor) is used for detecting the outer diameter. A light emitting element as a light source, a lens for condensing light from the light emitting element, and light received through the lens are used. And a photoelectric conversion element that performs photoelectric conversion of [0006] Finally, the shape detection is often used mainly for detecting the presence or absence of a hole in a coin. The detection is performed by a magnetic sensor of a reflected magnetic flux detection type, or by the output of the photoelectric conversion element. There are times when you do. By preventing the transport belt of coins from passing through the outer diameter detection unit, the shape (presence or absence of a hole) can be detected by the photoelectric conversion element. Here, an example of detection of a hole in a coin using a photoelectric conversion element will be described. For example, there is the following processing method. That is, a photoelectric conversion element is provided so as to detect a light-shielded area by a conveyed coin, and only the light-shielded portion of the photoelectric conversion element in an effective pixel period is counted based on an output signal of the photoelectric conversion element. Then, first, detection is started from the rise of the count output. When the output increases and reaches the first peak value, the hole detection start level and the detection end level are determined from the first peak value. Next, it is determined whether the output falls below the hole detection level. If it is lower than the hole detection level, the minimum hole value is detected. At this time, if the detection level is lower than the detection end level, the process ends with no hole. When the minimum hole value is detected, it is confirmed that the predetermined level rises from the minimum hole value. If a predetermined level rise is confirmed, it is determined that there is a hole. As described above, the detection of a hole in a coin requires monitoring from the rise to the fall of the output of the photoelectric conversion element, and the detection time is longer than that of a simple peak value detection such as material detection or outer diameter detection. It will take a lot. This means
This means that it takes a long time to pass the coin identification result to the control unit. [0009] However, in the conventional coin processing apparatus, as described above, coins inserted from the outside such as deposits are also coins which have already been identified in detail like deposits. Is also performed using all the same identification elements, and the same identification time is required. In the case of withdrawal, it is necessary to distinguish between Japanese coins. For Japanese coins,
The material detection and the outer diameter detection can be sufficiently distinguished, and the shape detection (detection of the presence or absence of a hole), which goes against the need for high-speed dispensing in the market, significantly increases the identification time. Therefore, according to the present invention, the process of identifying a coin once identified in detail, such as withdrawal, is greatly accelerated as compared with the case of identifying a coin inserted from the outside, such as deposit, and as a result, In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin processing device capable of speeding up a dispensing process. [0011] A coin processing apparatus according to the present invention is a recycle type coin processing apparatus for performing a deposit processing and a withdrawal processing of coins. Feeding means for feeding coins to be fed one by one, transport means for transporting the coins fed by the feeding means one by one, and each of the coins to be transported are disposed along the transport means and magnetically transfer the coins to be transported. A magnetic sensor of a transmitted magnetic flux detection type, a photoelectric conversion element for detecting a light-shielded area by the conveyed coin, and a first speed from the feeding means at the time of deposit.
The coin is fed out, the material of the deposited coin transported by the transport unit is detected based on the output of the magnetic sensor, and the outer diameter and hole of the deposited coin transported by the transport unit based on the output of the photoelectric conversion element. Respectively, and discriminates the deposited coin based on the results of these three detections. Hole detection of the coin is performed by detecting other material and outer diameter.
A first identification unit having a longer detection time than the detection,
And housing means for housing each distributing a deposit coin being conveyed by said conveying means based on the identification result of the identifying means, and the retrieval means for sending to the dispensing time, said take out the coins in the storage means feeding means, out At the time of gold, the feeding means
Coins are fed out at a second speed higher than the speed of the first, the material of the dispensed coin conveyed by the conveying means is detected based on the output of the magnetic sensor, and the conveying means is detected based on the output of the photoelectric conversion element. Of holes of dispensed coins conveyed by
A second discriminating means for detecting only the outer diameter without dispensing and discriminating the dispensed coin based on these two detection results, and conveying by the conveying means based on the discrimination result of the second discriminating means; And a payout means for paying out withdrawal coins. At the time of deposit , a coin is paid out at a first speed, the material of the coin is detected by the output of the magnetic sensor, and the outer diameter and the hole of the coin are detected by the output of the photoelectric conversion element. The coins are carefully identified based on these three detection results, and at the time of withdrawal, the second speed is higher than the first speed.
The coin is fed at the speed of, the material of the coin is detected by the output of the magnetic sensor, and the detection of the hole of the coin is omitted by the output of the photoelectric conversion element, and only the outer diameter is detected. Once the coin is identified, the process of identifying the coin once identified in detail, such as withdrawal,
Compared with the case where coins inserted from outside such as deposits are identified, the speed is greatly increased, and the identification results can be sent to the control unit quickly. As a result, the payment processing can be particularly speeded up. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration of the coin processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiving tray into which coins of various mixed denominations to be processed are put. When a coin is inserted, the receiving tray 1 rotates to drop the received coin onto the payout unit 2 located below. The feeding unit 2 feeds the coins dropped from the tray 1 one by one and sends them to the transport path 3. The transport path 3 forcibly transports the coins from the feeding unit 2 while pressing the coins onto the transport surface 4 by a transport belt 5, and sends the coins to a coin identification device 6. The coin identification device 6 identifies the authenticity, type, and the like of the coin conveyed by the identification processing described later, and outputs the identification result. In this embodiment, the conveyor belt 5 does not pass through the coin identification device 6.
Therefore, the coin conveyed to the coin discriminating device 6 passes through the coin discriminating device 6 by the inertia force accompanying the conveying force of the conveying belt 5 up to that time. The coins passing through the coin discriminating device 6 are forcibly conveyed again by the conveying path 3 and sent to the sorting section 7. The sorting unit 7 sorts coins transported by the transport path 3 into denominations based on the identification result of the coin identifying device 6. The sorting unit 7 includes, for example, a plurality of shutters 8,... Corresponding to each coin denomination, and selectively sorts coins by selectively opening and closing these shutters 8,. I have. The coins sorted by the sorting unit 7 are held in a temporary holding unit 9 provided below the coins.
When a transaction is concluded, the temporarily held coin is inserted into a denomination safe 10 provided below the coin. The above is a description of depositing. In dispensing, coins are taken out from the cash-type safe 10 and paid out. That is, coins taken out from the denomination safe 10 by the take-out mechanism 11 are conveyed to the right side in the figure by the horizontal conveying path 12 and further conveyed to the feeding section 2 by the vertical conveying path 13. The coins conveyed to the feeding section 2 pass through the coin discriminating device 6 and the sorting section 7 from the feeding section 2, and pass from a reject gate 14 provided at the rear end of the conveying path 3 to the horizontal conveying path 1.
5 and is conveyed to the vertical conveying path 16 and is dispensed to the tray 1. Note that reference numeral 17 denotes a staff safe storing refill coins, and reference numeral 18 denotes an overflow safe. FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a sensor arrangement in the coin identification device 6. In FIG.
Coins C fed out one by one are guided to the transport path 3,
The sheet is forcibly conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure while pressing the center portion on the conveying surface 4 by the conveying belt 5. A sapphire glass 21 is fixed near the start end of the transport surface 4, and an optical sensor 22 for detecting a light-shielded area by the transported coin C is provided on the sapphire glass 21. The optical sensor 22 is configured as follows, for example. That is, on the upper side of the sapphire glass 21, a rod-shaped light source 23 in which a number of light emitting diodes are juxtaposed in a direction orthogonal to the direction of transport of the coin C is arranged.
Below the sapphire glass 21 facing the light source 23, a CCD type line sensor 25 as a photoelectric conversion element is disposed via a rod-shaped lens (cell hook lens) 24. With this configuration, the light from the light source 23 is shielded from the coin C, passes through the sapphire glass 21, is focused by the lens 24, and forms the shadow of the coin C on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 25. In this case, the line sensor 2
The output 5 outputs a high-level signal only in a portion where light is blocked by the coin C. In front of the optical sensor 22, there is provided a coin detecting sensor 26 comprising a light emitting diode and a light receiving element for detecting the conveyed coin C, and the coin detecting sensor 26 detects the coin C. Thereafter, the operation of identifying the coin C is started. A magnetic sensor 27 for magnetically detecting the material and thickness of the coin C is provided in front of the optical sensor 22.
Is provided. The magnetic sensor 27 is a known magnetic sensor of a transmission magnetic flux detection type, and is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, although the entire main body 31 is molded and integrated with resin or the like, the transport surface 4 is located, and the central portion through which the coin C as an object to be detected passes and the upper central portion are formed. Each is open. And
The convex primary core 32 located below the transport surface 4 includes:
A primary coil 33 for excitation and a first secondary coil 34 electromagnetically induced from the primary coil 33 are wound around the primary coil 33, respectively. On the other hand, the secondary cores 35 and 36, which are arranged above the transport surface 4 and separated from each other at the center at the center, respectively,
Are wound around the secondary coils 37, 38. The secondary coils 37, 38 are generated from the primary coil 33, and the coin C
The magnetic flux transmitted through is detected. In addition, 1
The secondary coil 33 is excited by a sine wave signal from a sine wave oscillator 39. With such a configuration, the secondary coil 3
The amount of magnetic flux linked to 7, 38 greatly varies depending on whether or not the coin C is on the sensor. Usually, the primary core 32
However, when the coin C comes over the sensor, the magnetic flux is interrupted, so that it is difficult for the coin C to interlink. As described above, the magnetic sensor 27 is a magnetic sensor of a transmitted magnetic flux detection type, and is capable of comprehensively detecting not only the material of the coin C but also the difference in the thickness and the area of the coin C. And can be classified in various ways. FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit of the coin identification device 6. First, the system of the magnetic sensor 27 will be described. Outputs of the secondary coils 34, 37, and 38 are amplified by amplifiers (for example, differential amplifiers) 51, 56, and 60, and then DC components are cut by capacitors 52, 57, and 61, and the full-wave rectifier circuit is provided. Full-wave rectification is performed by 53, 58, 62, smoothed by low-pass filters 54, 59, 63, and input to the arithmetic circuit 64. The arithmetic circuit 64 performs, for example, the following processing: Vout = amp1 * [amp2 * V54− (amp3 * V59 + amp4 * V63)], and inputs the calculation result Vout to the channel 3 of the A / D converter 65. Here, the above V54
Is the output of the low-pass filter 54, V59 is the output of the low-pass filter 59, V63 is the output of the low-pass filter 63, a
np1, anp2, anp3, anp4 are constants. The low-pass filters 54, 59, 63
Are also directly input to the A / D converter 65, respectively. That is, the output of the low-pass filter 54 is on channel 0, the output of the low-pass filter 59 is on channel 1, the output of the low-pass filter 63 is on channel 2,
Each is entered. The A / D converter 65 includes a CPU 67 described later.
Is controlled by the multiplexer 66 controlled by the low pass filter 5.
4, 59, 63 and each output of the arithmetic circuit 64 are respectively converted into digital signals. It should be noted that the A / D converter 65 has channels 0,
The input signal levels of the first and second amplifiers 51, 56, 60
Are set to predetermined values in advance because the respective amplification factors are adjustable. Also, the A / D converter 6
The output of the arithmetic circuit 64 is adjusted so that the input signal level of the channel 3 of No. 5 becomes “0” when no coin is present on the sensor. The output of the A / D converter 65 is
7 is input to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 67 as output data. When identifying the coin C, the CPU 67 reads (samples) the output of the magnetic sensor 27 by selecting the channel 3 of the A / D converter 65 via the multiplexer 66, and a RAM (random access memory) 68. Are sequentially stored. The CPU 67 includes amplifiers 51, 56,
When adjusting the respective amplification factors of the A / D converter 65, the channels 0, 1, and 2 of the A / D converter 65 are sequentially switched through the multiplexer 66, so that the secondary coils 34,
The outputs of 37 and 38 are sequentially read to control the adjustment of the amplification factor. The CPU 67 has a ROM (read only memory) 69 for storing magnetic material, outer diameter, shape (hole) determination reference value data and the like for each coin denomination in the form of a table, and And a counter unit 70 for counting for detecting the outer diameter and the shape (hole) of the coin. Further, the CPU 67 includes a signal processing section 71.
The output of the line sensor 25 is input via the. Thus, the CPU 67 performs optical coin outer diameter and shape (hole) detection processing based on the output of the line sensor 25. The CPU 67 performs control of the entire control system, such as identification processing of the type and authenticity of coins, control of the amplification factor adjustment of the amplifier, and control processing of various actuators of the coin processing device based on the identification results. It is supposed to do it. Next, the operation of the coin discriminating apparatus 6 in the above configuration will be described. First, the output process of the magnetic sensor 27 will be described. Secondary coil 3 of magnetic sensor 27
4, 37 and 38 are output from amplifiers 51 and 5 respectively.
After being amplified by 6, 60, capacitors 52, 57, 61
The DC component is cut by the full-wave rectifier circuits 53, 58, and 62.
Are subjected to full-wave rectification and smoothed by the low-pass filters 54, 59, 63, and then input to the arithmetic circuit 64, where the above-described arithmetic processing described above is performed. Vout = anp1 * [anp2 * V54- (anp3 * V59 + amp4 * V63)] The operation output Vout is converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 65, and then input to the CPU 67. CPU6
Reference numeral 7 denotes a maximum value (peak value) by sampling the output of the A / D converter 65 at predetermined intervals and performing successive comparisons.
Is detected and stored in the RAM 68. Since the output of the magnetic sensor 27 is an integrated value of the magnetic flux, it has a gentle mountain shape, and the peak value can be easily detected. As is well known, the detection principle is to compare the amount of eddy current generated on the coin surface with respect to the alternating magnetic field, and the amount of eddy current is determined by the conductivity of the material of the coin. In addition, aluminum coins and bronze coins having large electric conductivity are large. Therefore, the output of the magnetic sensor 27 increases as the conductivity of the coin increases. Since the magnetic sensor 27 is of the transmitted magnetic flux detection type, the difference in the thickness and the area of coins can be comprehensively detected. Next, the outer diameter and hole detection processing of the coin by the optical sensor 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6A, the output signal of the line sensor 25 is a high-level (about 4.5 volt) signal at the light-shielding portion and a low-level (about 2 volt) signal at the light-receiving portion for one scan (about 1 m).
s). The start of the output signal for one scan is detected at the first rising of the output of the line sensor 25. Normally, in the line sensor, several pixels are invalid pixels from the trigger, there are a predetermined number of valid pixels after that, and there are several invalid pixels at the end, and one scan ends thereafter. Normal,
In detecting the outer diameter and hole of a coin, first, the line sensor 25 is used.
Is sliced by a predetermined threshold value to convert it into a signal as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, a signal which becomes high level during the effective pixel is generated, and the logical product of this signal and the signal of FIG. 6B is obtained. In the outer diameter detection, the line sensor 25 is applied to the logical product result signal from the start of the first light-shielding to the end of the last light-shielding in the effective pixel period.
The outer diameter of the coin C is detected for each scan of the line sensor 25 by counting the outer diameter detection pulse generated for each pixel of the counter C by the counter unit 70 (see FIG. 6D), and sequentially detecting the outer diameter. By comparison, the maximum value is stored in the RAM 68. In the hole detection, the counter 70 counts the shape detection pulses generated only during the light-shielding portion in the effective pixel period, for example, for each pixel of the line sensor 25 (see FIG. 6E). ,to add. Note that, in order to prevent dust detection and the like, if each light-shielding time is shorter than a predetermined value, it is not added. Here, coin C
An example of the hole detection process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 shows the count output of the counter unit 70 at the time of hole detection. First, detection starts from the rise of the output. Then, when the output increases and reaches the first peak value, the hole detection start level and the detection end level are determined from the first peak value. Next, it is determined whether the output falls below the hole detection level. If it is lower than the hole detection level, the minimum hole value is detected. At this time, if the detection level is lower than the detection end level, the process ends with no hole. When the minimum hole value is detected, it is confirmed that the predetermined level rises from the minimum hole value. If a predetermined level rise is confirmed, it is determined that there is a hole. As described above, the presence or absence of a hole in the coin C is detected based on the count value of the counter unit 70. In this manner, the maximum value of the output of the magnetic sensor 27 (the maximum value of the material detection) and the maximum value of the outer diameter (the maximum value of the outer diameter detection) are detected and stored in the RAM 68. When the presence or absence is detected, the CPU 67
Is determined by comparing each determination reference value data stored in advance in the form of a table in the ROM 69 with each of the maximum values stored in the RAM 68 to determine to which range each belongs. Based on the comprehensive judgment based on the result and the hole presence / absence detection result, the type and authenticity of the coin C are identified. Next, the operation of the coin processing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, for example, in the case of a deposit process in which a coin is inserted from the outside, the coin detecting sensor 26 located in front of the optical sensor 22 detects the conveyed coin C, and the identification process is started. You. First, the material of the coin C is detected based on the output of the magnetic sensor 27. Next, the output of the line sensor 25 detects the outer diameter of the coin C and the presence or absence of a hole. Then, a comprehensive judgment of the coin C is performed based on each of these detection results, and the type, authenticity, and the like are identified. At the time of deposit, the coin C is dispensed from the dispensing section 2 relatively slowly, and is carefully identified. On the other hand, in the dispensing process for handling a coin once determined to be a legitimate coin, the coin dispensing amount of the dispensing unit 2 is increased,
In the identification process, first, the material of the coin C is detected based on the output of the magnetic sensor 27. Next, the hole detection based on the output of the line sensor 25 is omitted, and only the outer diameter of the coin C is detected. Then, a comprehensive judgment of the coin C is performed based on each of these detection results, and the type, authenticity, and the like are identified. At the time of dispensing, since the actual identification time is about 2/3 of the time of deposit, the payout interval of the coin C may be about 2/3 of the time of deposit, and the payout of the coin C can be performed at a high speed. There is no problem even if it becomes. As a result, the dispensing process is speeded up, and the processing capacity of coins is greatly improved.
Even with common sense, there is no need to use the same routine to discriminate between coins once identified as legitimate coins and coins inserted from outside, and it can be said that the conventional discrimination method has a large processing time loss. . FIG. 8 shows the processing time of each identification element. As described above, it can be seen that the detection time of coin hole detection is much longer than other detection processes. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since hole detection is not performed at the time of dispensing, a coin processing device that meets the needs of high-speed dispensing in the market can be obtained. Since foreign coins have very few coins with holes, hole detection is often used for the purpose of eliminating foreign coins, and material identification and outer diameter detection are sufficient for discrimination between Japanese coins. The adjustment of the coin feeding amount of the feeding unit 2 is performed, for example, by providing a pinch roller driven by a DC motor on the upstream side of the feeding unit 2 and controlling the rotation speed of the DC motor. Easy to achieve. As described above, in the coin processing apparatus having the coin material detecting means based on the output of the transmitted magnetic flux detecting type magnetic sensor, the coin outer diameter detecting means based on the output of the line sensor, and the hole detecting means, the coin processing device is provided with In this way, for coins inserted from outside, identification is performed using all of the above identification elements (material detection, outer diameter detection, hole detection), and coins that have already been identified once in detail, such as when dispensing, are identified. In this case, only material detection and outer diameter detection are performed, and coins are identified at high speed without hole detection. As a result, the process of identifying coins that have already been identified in detail, such as withdrawal, is significantly faster than in the case of identifying coins inserted from the outside, such as deposits, and the identification result is quickly controlled. Can be sent to the department. As a result, the speed of the dispensing process can be particularly increased. As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the process of identifying a coin once identified in detail, such as withdrawal, is performed in the case of identifying a coin inserted from outside such as deposit. As a result, it is possible to provide a coin processing apparatus which is significantly speeded up as a result, and as a result, can particularly speed up the dispensing process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a coin processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a coin processing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of sensors in the coin identification device. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic sensor. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the coin identification device. FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining processing of outer diameter detection and shape detection. FIG. 7 is a graph showing a count output of a counter unit at the time of shape detection. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing time of each identification element. [Explanation of Symbols] C: coin, 2: feeding section, 3: transport path, 4: transport surface, 5 ...
Conveyor belt, 6: Coin identification device, 7: Sorting unit, 9: Temporary holding unit, 10: Deposit safe, 11: Unloading mechanism, 12, 1
3, 15, 16: transport path, 22: optical sensor, 23: light source, 25: line sensor (photoelectric conversion element), 27: magnetic sensor, 33: primary coil, 34, 37, 38: secondary coil, 64 ... arithmetic circuit, 65 ... A / D converter, 67 ... C
PU, 68 RAM, 69 ROM, 70 counter section.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Deposit and withdraw coins
In the recirculation type coin processing device, a feeding unit for feeding coins to be deposited or coins to be dispensed one by one, a conveying unit for conveying the coins fed by the feeding unit one by one, They are respectively along disposed, transparent flux-sensing magnetic sensor for detecting a coin that is the conveying magnetically, and a photoelectric conversion element for detecting the light shielding area by coins to be the conveying, during receiving said feeding means Coins at the first speed from
And, wherein detects the material of the deposit coin being conveyed by said conveying means based on the output of the magnetic sensor, detects the outside diameter and holes of the deposit coin being conveyed by said conveying means based on an output of said photoelectric conversion elements, respectively and, performs the identification of the deposit coin on the basis of these three detection results, the
Coin hole detection compared to other material detection and outer diameter detection
First identifying means having a long time ; storing means for sorting and storing the received coins conveyed by the conveying means based on the identification result of the first identifying means; coins in the storing means at the time of withdrawal A take-out means for taking out and sending it to the pay-out means; and when paying out, the pay-out means is faster than the first speed.
The coin is paid out at a second speed, the material of the coin to be conveyed by the conveying means is detected based on the output of the magnetic sensor , and the coin is conveyed by the conveying means based on the output of the photoelectric conversion element. the outer diameter is omitted to detect the coins holes in
A second discriminating means for detecting the dispensing coin based on the two detection results, and dispensing the dispensing coin conveyed by the conveying means based on the discrimination result of the second discriminating means. A coin dispensing device, comprising: a dispensing unit that dispenses.