JPH0440754B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorting device used in a vending machine or the like, which sorts coins using an electronic sorter and sorts the coins by denomination.

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic sorting machines that electrically and magnetically inspect the diameter, material, etc. of inserted coins to determine the coin type, that is, the denomination, are already known. In order to sort the coins determined by this electronic sorting machine by denomination, there are methods disclosed in JP-A-57-136294, JP-A-50-37499, JP-A-50-37498, and JP-A-55. As seen in Publication No. 110386, in the past, a solenoid was driven by a discrimination signal from an electronic sorter, and a sorting piece sorted the coins into one of two coin passages, and the inserted coins were transferred into gold coins. Sorted by species.
However, these known coin sorting devices can only sort two coins using one sorting piece, so if there are three or more denominations of input coins, the number of sorting pieces will increase, and the number of solenoids that drive the sorting pieces will also increase. It was necessary to do so.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention When there are three or more denominations of input coins, including counterfeit coins, a determination signal from an electronic sorter drives a solenoid to switch the sorting pieces to separate coins by denomination. As mentioned above, in the conventional case, a solenoid is required for each sorting piece, which has the disadvantage of increasing the number of solenoids. As the number of solenoids increases, the device becomes more expensive, and the number of operating parts increases, resulting in an increase in maintenance and inspections and troubles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorting device that can sort three or more types of coins by denomination using one solenoid.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is arranged at the entrance of a coin passage, and uses a signal from a coin identification means to identify an inserted coin.
In a coin sorting device that distributes coins by activating a gate means disposed downstream of the coin identifying means in response to a coin determining signal from a coin determining means for determining the denomination of a coin, the gate means:
It constitutes the bottom plate of the coin passage on which the coin rolls on the top surface when protruding into the coin passage, and closes the entrance of one or more second coin passages arranged below the bottom plate, and when retreating, the second coin passage It integrally includes an upper gate part that opens the entrance of the coin passage, and a lower gate part that is disposed downstream of at least one second coin passage and switches the coin passage by a member that projects or retreats into the coin passage. one solenoid that drives the gate means and switches the coin passage by each gate part, and detects coins provided in the coin passage corresponding to at least the upstream of each gate part other than the most upstream gate part. and a solenoid operation control means for controlling the operation pattern of the solenoid according to the denomination of the coin using a coin determination signal from the coin determination means and a coin detection signal from each of the sensors. solved.

Operation When a coin is inserted, the coin identification means sends out an identification signal based on the diameter and material of the coin, and from the identification signal, the coin identification means determines the denomination of the coin and sends out a judgment signal. On the other hand, coins flowing down the coin passage pass through the upper gate part forming the bottom plate of the coin passage, but it is necessary for the determination signal from the coin discrimination means to switch the most upstream gate part to change the coin passage. When the determination signal indicates that the coin is a certain coin, the solenoid operation control means immediately operates the solenoid and switches the gate means upon receiving the determination signal. Also, if it is a judgment signal for other denominations,
When the sensor detects that a coin has flowed down to the upper gate position where the coin passage should be switched based on the judgment signal, the solenoid operation control means operates the solenoid and switches the gate means based on the detection signal, and the coin passage is switched. Switch passages. When a coin enters the second coin passage located below the upper gate part, a solenoid is activated based on a coin detection signal from a sensor provided in the coin passage and a coin judgment signal from a coin judgment means. The gate section at the bottom is switched to operate or not to sort coins by denomination.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coin sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure and operation of the passage switching means _G1 , and Fig. 3 is the structure of the gate section _G3 of the gate means. 1, which is a longitudinally cut view of the gate portion _G3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the relational structure of each gate part G ₂ to _{G 5} of the gate means, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the gate means seen from the back side of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gate means. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the structure and operation of gate portions G ₄ and G ₅ .

In Fig. 1, P ₁ to _{P 4} are photo sensors, L ₁
~ _L9 is a coin passage, S is a coin identification means, _G1 is a passage switching means, _G2 ~ _G5 is a gate part of a gate means,
SOL1, SOL2 are solenoids, 1 is return lever,
2 is a sensor that detects the operation of the return lever 1;
3 is an indicator light consisting of an LED.

To explain the structure and function of the gate means, the passage switching means _G1 is controlled by a solenoid SOL1 that is activated when the photosensor _P4 detects an inserted coin. As shown, the lever 4 rotates clockwise to move the passage switching means G ₁ to the right side in the figure, closing the lower passage L ₂ in Figures 1 and 2 , in FIG. 2A, the passage _L3 in the direction perpendicular to the page is opened and the inserted coin C is guided to the passage _L3 . In addition, when the solenoid SOL1 is not operating, as shown in Figure 2 (b), the passage switching means
G ₁ moves to the left in the figure, closes passage L ₃ , and closes passage L 3.
In order to open L ₂ , the inserted coin C passes through passage L ₂ ,
will be returned. In addition, in FIG. 1, coins and the like that are not sorted are shown as slag.

The gate means integrally has gate parts G ₂ and G ₃ in the upper part and gate parts G ₄ and G ₅ in the lower part, and is controlled by a solenoid SOL2, and the gate part G ₂ and the gate The section _G3 is constructed continuously and closes the coin passages _L4 and _L5 while the solenoid SOL2 is not operating, and forms the bottom plate of the passage _L3 . (See Figures 1 and 4). As shown in FIG. ₃ , the gate part G3 has a sloped upper surface constituting a passageway _L3 , and is designed to guide counterfeit coins and the like to the return passageway _L2 and return them. The gate portion G ₄ and the gate portion G ₅ have the same shape and perform the same function, and FIG. 6 shows the gate portion G ₄ as an example. While solenoid SOL2 is operating, the gate section
_G4 is in _a protruding state as _shown in FIG.
A slit 8 is formed through which the coin C can pass, and the coin C comes into contact with the plate G ₄ ″ of the gate part G ₄ and passes through the slit 8.
Figure 6 A, left side, i.e. passage L ₆ shown in Figure 1
to fall. Furthermore, while the solenoid SOL2 is not operating, _the gate part _G4 is in a retracted state as shown in FIG.
G ₄ ' and falls along the main plate 6 to the right in FIG. 6, that is, to the path L ₇ shown in FIG. 1.

In the above embodiment, the gate part G ₄ is composed of two plates G ₄ ′ and G ₄ ″, but it may also be composed of one plate. In that case, the gate plate is connected to a solenoid.
Enter and exit from the main plate 6 by SOL2,
When the gate plate is in the retracted position, the coin C may fall as is, and when the gate plate is in the protruding position, the coin C may contact the gate plate, change direction, and be distributed to another passage. .

Next, the relationship between the gate portions _G2 to _G5 of the gate means and the solenoid SOL2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The plate 9 is integrally fixed to the lever 5, and One end is rotatably fixed to the main plate 6, and the other end is connected to a solenoid.
It is rotatably fixed to the plunger of SOL2. Moreover, one end (upper part) of the plate 9 is connected to the gate part G ₂ ,
G ₃ is fixed, and as described above, the gate portions G ₂ and G ₃ constitute the bottom plate of the passage L ₃ , and the passage surface of the gate portion G ₃ is constituted by an inclined surface. A gate part _G4 and a gate part _G5 are fixed to the other end (lower part).
When the solenoid SOL2 is not operating, the gate portions G ₂ and G ₃ pass through the holes in the main plate 6, close the passages L ₄ and L ₅ , and the gate portion G ₃ passes through the holes in the main plate 6, as shown in FIG.
guides the coin to return path _L2 . In addition, the gate part G ₄ ,
_G5 is retracted into the state shown in Figure 6B,
The passages L ₆ and L ₈ in FIG. 1 are closed, and the passages L ₇ and
L ₉ is open. Furthermore, when the solenoid SOL2 is actuated, the plunger 10 rotates the lever 5 clockwise and the plate 9 also rotates clockwise, so that the gate parts G ₂ and G ₃ are retracted from the passage and
L ₄ and L ₅ are unclosed, while gate parts G ₄ and G ₅ are
Protruding as shown in Figure 6A, the passage in Figure 1
Close L ₇ and L ₉ and open passages L ₆ and L ₈ . In this way, the gate means uses the single solenoid SOL2 to control the gates G ₂ , G ₃ ,
It controls the opening and closing of G ₄ and G ₅ and switches the coin passage.

The structure and operation of the passage switching means and gate means have been described above. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 14.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of this embodiment, in which analog signals of the outer diameter and material of the inserted coin detected by the coin identifying means S are converted into digital signals by the AD exchanger 21 of the coin determining means J. , is input to the CPU (central processing unit) 22. The CPU 22 determines the coin based on the peak value of the digital signal and the reference value stored in the ROM 23. Based on this determination result, a ¥ signal of 10 yen to 500 yen is sent from the output driver circuit 24 to one ¥ signal line. Further, depending on the signals from the photosensors P ₁ to _{P 4} inputted from the input buffer circuit 25 and the type of the above-mentioned ¥ signal, a signal is output from the output driver circuit 24 to operate the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2.
Next, the process of sorting the inserted coins will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14. In FIG. 8, when the power is turned on to the coin sorting device,
First, the input/output device is initialized,
ROM, RAM, etc. are set and checked,
Next, check to see if any coins are flowing in the coin sorting device, and if there is any abnormality in the system.
Turn on the LED and repeat the above check. If there is no abnormality, it enters a standby state and waits for coins to be inserted. During this time, the return lever is operated and sensor 2
When turns ON, a return operation signal R is output. When a coin is inserted and the photo sensor _P4 turns on, the sensor level of the coin identification means S is latched (this is because the reference voltage of the sensor S changes depending on the temperature).
This is to fix the sensor level to the voltage immediately before coin identification. ) Timer T1 in CPU22
○Start the engine and turn on the solenoid SOL1.
do. Therefore, the passage switching means _G1 moves to close the coin passage _L2 and open the passage _L3 (Fig. 1,
(See Figure 2). The coin moves to passage _L3 , the coin identification means S detects the coin and turns on, and the photo sensor
P ₄ turns OFF (after setting timer T1)
If sensor S does not turn ON and photo sensor P ₄ does not turn OFF even after 200ms has passed, it is assumed that the coin has jammed in the middle, and a recoverable coin jam treatment is performed.
(transition to RP), the timer T1 is reset and started again. A waveform signal that varies depending on the type of coin is sent from the coin identification means S as a digital signal through an AD converter. and,
When the peak value of this coin identification signal is detected, solenoid SOL1 is turned OFF, passage _L3 is closed,
Open passage _L2 . In addition, the above peak value signal is
If the timer T1 is not detected even after 120 ms or more has elapsed, the process moves to the recoverable coin jam processing RP.

Next, the CPU 22 of the coin determining means compares the peak value of the coin identification signal with the reference value of each denomination stored in the ROM 23, and if the coin is 10 yen or 100 yen, processes the coins as 10 yen or 100 yen. Move to ¥1, and if it is 50 yen or 500 yen, move to 50 yen, 500 yen coin processing ¥5. If the above peak value does not match the standard value for each denomination, it will be returned as a counterfeit coin _.
, turns on and off photosensor P ₁ , is guided to passage L ₂ at gate G ₃ and turns photosensor P ₃ on,
Turn OFF (see Figure 3). Note that if the ON/OFF signals of the photosensors P ₁ and P ₃ are not input to the CPU 22 within 1 second after the timer T1 starts,
Perform coin jam treatment T. The fake coin above is a photo sensor.
When P ₁ and P ₃ are turned ON and OFF and returned, the timer T1 is reset and started again. Then, it is detected whether the photosensor _P4 is OFF or not, and if the photosensor _P4 is not turned off even after 500 ms of the started timer T1 has elapsed, a recoverable coin jam treatment RP is performed. On the other hand, if the photo sensor _P4 is turned off before the timer T1 elapses by 500 ms, the coin sorting device returns to the initial standby state.

Next, the operation after the CPU determines that the inserted coin is 10 yen or 100 yen will be explained with reference to FIG.

When it is determined that the coin is 10 yen or 100 yen, the solenoid SOL2 turns ON, the gate part G ₂ leaves the passage, and the passage L ₄ is unblocked (see Figures 1 and 4). will be directed to aisle L ₄ ,
The photo sensor _P2 is turned ON, but in this case, even if the timer T1 started earlier has elapsed for 300ms,
If neither photo sensor P ₂ nor photo sensor P ₁ is turned on, the process moves to coin jam processing T. Further, if the photosensor P ₂ is not turned on and the photosensor P ₁ is turned on, the process moves to the erroneous sorting process G. When the photo sensor _P2 turns ON within 300ms of the timer T1 and the ON signal is input to the CPU 22, the timer T1 is started again and if the previous judgment result is 10 yen, the solenoid SOL2 is turned OFF. If the price is 100 yen, solenoid SOL2 is kept in the ON state. The inserted coin falls down passage _L4 , and if it is 10 yen, solenoid SOL2 is already OFF, so
As shown in FIG. 6B, the gate _G4 is in the retracted position, and the coin falls to the right, that is, toward the passage _L7 . Furthermore, if the coin is 100 yen, the solenoid SOL2 is in the ON state, so the gate part _G4 is in the protruding state as shown in Fig. 6A.
The coin falls to the left, that is, to the path _L6 side. On the other hand, if the coin falls, photo sensor P ₂ turns OFF.
However, if the timer T1 does not turn off even after 200 ms, it means that a coin has jammed, and the process moves to coin jam processing T. Then, the CPU 22 receives the OFF signal from the photosensor P ₂ , and if the inserted coin is 10 yen, it will send a 5ms pulse as a 10 yen signal, and if it is 100 yen, it will send a 25ms pulse as a 100 yen signal. Send from the ¥ signal line. Then, the timer T1 is reset and started again, and waits until the timer T1 reaches 100 ms. That is, the process waits for a sufficient time for the coin to pass through the gate G○O, turns off the solenoid SOL2, and then returns to position Z in FIG. 8 to proceed to the next flow.

Next, the operation when the inserted coin is determined to be 50 yen or 500 yen will be explained with reference to FIG.

The inserted coin is determined to be 50 yen or 500 yen, and
The inserted coin passes through passage L ₃ and is detected by photo sensor P _1.
(Please note that photo sensor P ₁ remains on until timer T1, which was started earlier, reaches 300ms.
If it does not turn on, the process moves to coin jam processing T, and if the photo sensor _P2 turns on, the error sorting process G
Move to. ) and turn on solenoid SOL2,
Restart timer T1. As a result, the gate part _G3 is retracted and the coin falls into the passage _L5 .
Therefore, the photo sensor P ₁ turns OFF (if the photo sensor P ₁ does not turn OFF even when the timer T1 reaches 200ms, the process moves to coin jam processing T), and the photo sensor P ₃ turns ON (also in this case, the timer T1 but
If photo sensor P ₃ does not turn on even after 300ms, the process moves to coin jam processing T). Photosensor P ₃
When receiving the ON signal, the CPU starts timer T1 again and determines that the coin identification result is 50.
If it is yen, solenoid SOL2 is turned off, and if it is 500 yen, solenoid SOL2 is kept on. Then the coin falls down the aisle L ₅ and 50
If it is a circle, solenoid SOL2 is OFF, so
As shown in Figure 6B, the gate _G5 is retracted, the coin falls to the right side, that is, the path _L9 side, and if it is 500 yen, the solenoid SOL2 is ON, so the gate _G5 is pulled in. protrudes as shown in Figure 6A, and the coin falls to the left, that is, to the path _L8 side. On the other hand, when the coin falls, the photo sensor P ₃ turns OFF (if it does not turn OFF even after the timer T1 reaches 100ms, the coin is jammed, and the process moves to coin jam processing T).
Upon receiving the OFF signal, the CPU 22 sends a 15ms pulse of the 50 yen signal if the coin determination result is 50 yen.
If it is 500 yen, send a 35 ms pulse of the 500 yen signal to the \ signal line, restart timer T1, and when timer T1 elapses for 100 ms, solenoid SOL
2 is turned OFF, and the gate part _G5 is fixed for a sufficient period of time for the coin to pass through the gate part _G5 . Then, it returns to the position Z in FIG. 8 and is placed in a standby state again.

Next, while referring to FIG. 11, return lever 1
Describe the behavior when is operated.

When the return lever 1 is operated, the sensor 2 detects it, and when the return switch is turned on, the process moves to return processing R, and the CPU 22 starts the timer T1 and sends out a return signal. Then, when the timer T1 has elapsed for 1 second, it is detected whether the return switch is turned off, and if it is off, the timer T1 is started again, and the return switch is turned off again.
Detects whether it is turned off, and if it is turned off,
When the timer T1 has elapsed for 0.3 seconds (this is to detect that the return lever 1 is not kept pressed), the return signal is stopped, and the state returns to A in FIG. 8 to enter the standby state.

Next, regarding the release of coin jams at the entrance section of this coin sorting device, that is, the passage switching means _G1 section,
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. 8th
As mentioned in the figure explanation, photosensor P ₄
Even though the solenoid SOL1 was turned on, the coin identification means S was not turned on and the photo sensor _P4
When the coin identification means S does not turn off or the measured waveform from the coin identification means S does not show a peak, a recoverable coin identification process RP is performed. That is, in this case, in the vicinity of the passage switching means G ₁ (in particular, the passage switching means G ₁
It is thought that the coins are jammed (e.g., because the coins are biting against the gate plate that closes the passageway _L2 ), but this is a process to eliminate this jam.

When this processing RP is requested, first the CPU 22
starts timer T1 and solenoid
Turn off SOL1. As a result, the photo sensor
If P ₄ is turned OFF and the coin identification means S is turned OFF, the jam has been eliminated and the coin has been removed from the passage.
It will be returned via _L2 . However, even after 200ms of timer T1, photo sensor _P4 is OFF.
, or if the coin identification means S does not turn OFF, it means that the coin jam has not been ruled out yet, and the CPU 22 starts the timer T1 again and turns the solenoid SOL1 ON. Then, like last time, before the timer T1 counts 100ms, the photo sensor P ₄ and the coin identification means S are turned off.
If so, the blockage has been cleared, so turn off solenoid SOL1 and return to point A. Photo sensor P ₄ until timer T1 counts 100ms,
If the coin identification means S does not turn off, the same process as above is performed, and if the jam is still not cleared (unless the photo sensor P ₄ and the coin identification means S do not turn off), the process moves to coin jam processing T.

Next, when coin jam processing T is requested (13th
(see figure), the CPU 22 sets the blinking flag to "0", starts timer T1, judges whether the blinking flag is "0", and if it is "0", the LED
Turn off the light and set the blinking flag to "1". When the timer reaches 1 second, the process returns to the second step in Figure 13 and starts the timer T1 again.Since the flashing flag is "1" this time, the LED is turned on.
When the blinking flag is set to "0" and the timer has elapsed for 1 second, the process returns to the second step in FIG. 13 again. In this way, when a coin jam occurs, the LED flashes at one-second intervals to indicate the coin jam.The customer sees this display and reports it to the vending machine owner, who will then remove the coin jam. If the return switch 1 is turned ON for at least 3 seconds, the normal sales standby state is restored. In this case, the return switch 1 also serves as a clogging clearing switch, but a clogging clearing switch may be provided separately.

Next, when the erroneous sorting process G is requested, the LED is blinked in the same flow as the coin jamming process T, as shown in FIG. In this case, the difference from a coin jam is that the LED blinks at 0.3 second intervals.

The owner of the vending machine sees this display, determines that the sorting was incorrect, resolves the problem with the customer, and turns on the return switch 1 for at least 3 seconds, then the vending machine returns to the normal sales standby state. The plane returns. In this case as well, press the return switch 1 as in the case of a coin jam.
A separate switch may be provided instead.

Also, as mentioned above, the blinking interval of the LED display was different due to coin jams and missorting, so
A single display can display jammed coins and missorted coins.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, a gate member having a plurality of gate parts for distributing input coins is driven by a single solenoid, and coins of three or more denominations are distributed by denomination, so there are few moving parts. Moreover, since it has a simple configuration, maintenance inspection and troubleshooting can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coin sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a coin sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention _.
3 shows the structure of the gate section _G3 of the gate means of the device. Figure 4 shows
5 is a plan view of the gate means seen from the back side of FIG. ₁ ; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the relational structure of each gate section G2 to _G5 of the gate means of the device; FIG. Structure and operation diagram of G ₄ and G ₅ , No. 7
The figure is a control circuit diagram of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 8 to 14 are coin distribution processing flows of the same control circuit. S...Coin identification means, _G1 ...Aisle switching means,
G ₂ to G ₅ ...Gate section of second gate means, SOL
1, SOL2...Solenoid, J...Coin judgment means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The coin identification means disposed at the entrance of the coin passage and identifying the coin type by a signal from the coin identification means which identifies the inserted coin and determines the denomination of the coin. In a coin sorting device for sorting coins by operating a gate means disposed downstream of the means, the gate means constitutes a bottom plate of the coin passage on which the coin rolls when projected into the coin passage; an upper gate portion that closes the entrances of one or more second coin passages disposed below and opens the entrances of the second coin passages during evacuation; and at least one downstream of the second coin passages. a solenoid which integrally has a lower gate part which switches the coin passage by means of a member protruding or retracting into the coin passage; one solenoid which drives the gate means and switches the coin passage by each gate part; A sensor for detecting a coin is provided at least upstream of each gate section other than the most upstream gate section, and a coin judgment signal from the coin judgment means and a coin detection signal of each of the sensors, 1. A coin sorting device comprising: a solenoid operation control means for controlling an operation pattern of a solenoid according to the denomination of the coin, and sorting coins by denomination. 2 The most downstream end of the bottom plate constituting the upper gate portion is formed in a tapered shape, and when the bottom plate protrudes into the coin passage, coins flowing down are guided to the side return passage. The coin sorting device according to item 1.