JP6262625B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art A money handling machine that includes an image pickup unit such as a CCD camera in a coin identification unit and can read a marking pattern on the surface of a coin is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Also, there is known a money handling apparatus that includes a coin recognition unit having a small occupation space by using a line sensor instead of a CCD camera (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP-A-8-36661 JP 2007-58617 A JP 2000-33210 A

  By the way, at least one of a pair of conveyance guides that guide the outer peripheral surface of the coin on both sides in the passage width direction is movable in the passage width direction, and the passage width is changed in advance according to the type of coin to be identified. There is a coin processing device that performs identification. In such a coin processing device, it was considered to irradiate the coin with light from above with an illumination device. When irradiating light on the coin from the top, it is necessary to avoid the influence of the transport guide. Due to such positional restrictions, there is a possibility that light cannot be irradiated well depending on the type of coin, that is, the passage width. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of irradiating light to a coin satisfactorily even when the passage width is variable and light is irradiated from above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a passage portion for guiding a lower surface of a coin, a pair of conveyance guides for guiding an outer peripheral surface of the coin on both sides in the passage width direction, and a lower side of the passage portion. A coin recognition device that detects the light transmitted through the passage portion and identifies a coin, wherein at least one of the pair of transport guides is movable in the passage width direction. And an upper illumination device that is integrally fixed to each of the pair of transport guides and that irradiates light on the optical axis vertically downward to a position between the transport guide on the arrangement side and the coins on the passage portion. It is characterized by having.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the coin identifying unit has a line sensor extending in a passage width direction below the passage unit, and the irradiation light of the upper illumination device is It is characterized in that the diameter of the coin is detected by performing a shadow length detection operation for detecting the length of the shadow by the coin with the line sensor.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the coin identifying unit has a lower illumination device that irradiates light on the lower surface of the coin, and the reflected light from the coin of the light from the lower illumination device. Is detected by the line sensor, and a pattern detection operation for detecting a pattern on the lower surface of the coin is performed.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the coin identifying unit determines the start and end of the pattern detection operation based on the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the coin identifying unit identifies whether or not the coin is a blank coin.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper illumination device guides the light source and the light on the optical axis of the light source so as to be directed vertically downward. And an optical member.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the light source emits light toward the passage portion side in the passage width direction by arranging an optical axis in the passage width direction. However, it has the inclined surface which inclines so that the upper surface of the edge part by the side of the channel in the channel width direction may be located in the lower side toward the tip.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface is a curved surface that is recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface is configured such that a plurality of surface portions having different angles are continuously provided so as to be recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member. It is characterized by being.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is integrally fixed to each of the pair of transport guides, and the light on the optical axis is directed vertically downward at a position between the transport guide on the arrangement side and the coins on the passage portion. Since it has an upper illumination device to irradiate, even if at least one of the pair of transport guides is moved in the passage width direction and the passage width is variable, it is always directed to the position between the transport guide and the coin on the passage portion. Can be irradiated with light. Therefore, even when the passage width is variable and light is irradiated from above, the coin can be irradiated with light satisfactorily. In addition, since the upper illumination device is integrally arranged in each of the pair of conveyance guides, if the conveyance guide is moved in the passage width direction, the upper illumination device is automatically moved in the passage width direction. This eliminates the need for a dedicated mechanism for moving the upper illumination device in the passage width direction, thereby reducing cost and space.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, since the shadow length detection operation for detecting the shadow length of the light irradiated by the coin of the upper illumination device is performed by an inexpensive and compact line sensor, the diameter of the coin is detected. The coin diameter can be identified by detecting the diameter of the coin while reducing the size and space.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the lower illumination device irradiates the lower surface of the coin with light, the line sensor that detects the diameter of the coin with the light of the upper illumination device reflects the light from the lower illumination device from the coin. A pattern detection operation for detecting light and detecting the pattern on the lower surface of the coin is performed. Therefore, the upper illumination device emits light according to the coin diameter detection, the lower illumination device emits light according to the coin pattern detection, and each light is detected by a common line sensor. The diameter of the coin and the pattern on the bottom surface of the coin can be detected. Therefore, detection suitable for the detection item can be performed while reducing costs and saving space.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, based on the shadow length detected by the shadow length detection operation | movement which a line sensor detects the shadow length by the coin of the irradiation light of an upper illuminating device, a pattern detection operation start and Since the end is determined, the start and end of the pattern detection operation can be determined with good timing. This eliminates the need for a dedicated timing sensor for determining the start and end of the pattern detection operation, thereby reducing costs and saving space.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, since a coin identification part identifies whether a coin is a blank coin, it does not need to perform exact identification. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently identify the shadow length detection operation and the pattern detection operation by the line sensor.

  According to the invention of claim 6, since the upper illumination device has the light source and the light guide member that guides the light on the optical axis of the light source so as to be directed vertically downward, the flexibility of the layout of the light source is high. Become.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the light source is arranged so that the optical axis is arranged in the passage width direction, and the light guide member emits light toward the passage portion side from the light source. Since the light is guided vertically downward by the inclined surface that is inclined to be positioned on the lower side as it goes toward the front end, the size and simplification of the upper illumination device can be achieved.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 8, since an inclined surface is a curved surface dented toward the inner side of a light guide member, the irradiation range of light can be expanded in a passage width direction.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the inclined surface is formed by connecting a plurality of surface portions having different angles so as to be recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member as a whole. It can be expanded in the passage width direction.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the principal part of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the principal part of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front sectional view showing the important section of the coin processor concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the light guide member of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front sectional view showing the important section of the coin processor concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is front sectional drawing of the modification which shows the principal part of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

A coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The coin processing device according to the present embodiment performs a coin identification process, and more specifically, a metal coin, and a completed coin after a surface pattern (engraved pattern) is formed by press molding. Or a blank coin before the surface pattern is formed by press molding. For example, the coin processing device is provided in a production line for manufacturing coins, and detects a blank coin mixed in a completed coin.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coin processing device 10 according to the present embodiment has a conveyance path 20 that guides the coin C. An unillustrated coin separation operation unit that separates the coins C one by one and feeds them toward the conveyance path 20 is provided on the upstream side of the conveyance path 20 in the coin conveyance direction. In addition, a feed unit (not shown) that moves the coin C fed from the coin separating operation section toward the downstream side on the transport path 20 is provided above the transport path 20.

  The conveyance path 20 has a pair of passage portions 21 that are horizontally disposed on the upper surface and guide the lower surface of the coin C, and that are disposed on both sides of the passage portion 21 in the passage width direction and guide the outer peripheral surface of the coin C on both sides in the passage width direction. Conveyance guides 22 and 23, and a coin identification unit 24 that is arranged below the passage unit 21 and identifies the coin C that moves on the passage unit 21.

  The pair of transport guides 22 and 23 have guide surfaces 22 a and 23 a that face each other in parallel and guide the outer peripheral surface of the coin C. Each of the guide surfaces 22a and 23a is a flat surface that rises vertically from the passage portion 21. The direction connecting these guide surfaces 22 a and 23 a is the passage width direction of the conveyance path 20.

  One conveyance guide 22 of the pair of conveyance guides 22 and 23 is fixed in position with respect to the passage portion 21, and the other conveyance guide 23 is relative to the passage portion 21 so as to change the passage width of the passage portion 21. It can be moved in the width direction of the passage. The other transport guide 23 moves in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface 23a while keeping the guide surface 23a parallel to the guide surface 22a of the transport guide 22 at all times. The pair of transport guides 22 and 23 is configured such that the transport guide 23 is appropriately moved and fixed with respect to the passage portion 21 to guide the transport path 20 in a line from the upstream side to the downstream side. And

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin identifying unit 24 includes a transparent plate 31 and a case 32 that supports the transparent plate 31 on the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the transparent plate 31 and the case 32 constitute a part of the passage portion 21 with the upper surfaces thereof being horizontally disposed. The coin identifying unit 24 identifies the coin C by detecting the light transmitted through the transparent plate 31. The transparent plate 31 is disposed within the range of the guide surfaces 22a and 23a in the coin transport direction. The transparent plate 31 is made of a glass plate.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin identifying unit 24 includes a substrate 35 attached to the case 32 so as to cover a lower opening thereof, a rod lens 36 and a light guide plate 37 that are disposed in the case 32 and supported by the case 32. have. A line sensor 38 is attached to the substrate 35. The line sensor 38 has a large number of light receiving cells 39, and these light receiving cells 39 are arranged in series in the extending direction of the line sensor 38. The line sensor 38 is arranged below the passage portion 21 so as to extend in the passage width direction. The substrate 35 is provided with a plurality of upstream LEDs 41, which are lower light sources, arranged in the passage width direction on the upstream side of the line sensor 38 in the coin transport direction, and further downstream of the line sensor 38 in the coin transport direction. A plurality of downstream LEDs 42 as lower light sources are provided side by side in the passage width direction. Each of the plurality of LEDs 41 is attached to the substrate 35 such that the theoretical optical axis A1 of light emission (hereinafter referred to as the optical axis A1) faces vertically upward as shown in FIG. Similarly, each of the plurality of LEDs 42 is attached to the substrate 35 so that the theoretical optical axis A2 of light emission (hereinafter referred to as the optical axis A2) faces vertically upward.

  The light guide plate 37 is made of a transparent acrylic resin, and has an upstream light guide portion 45 that guides the light of the upstream LED 41 on the upstream side in the coin transport direction. The upstream light guide unit 45 has a reflection surface 45a that reflects and bends light on the optical axis A1 directed vertically upward of the upstream LED 41, and on the optical axis A1 reflected by the reflection surface 45a. Light is guided so as to irradiate the lower surface of the coin C on the transparent plate 31 obliquely upward from the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction. The reflection surface 45a is a flat surface that is inclined so as to be positioned on the upper side toward the downstream side in the coin conveyance direction.

  The light guide plate 37 has a downstream light guide 46 that guides the light of the downstream LED 42 on the downstream side in the coin transport direction. The downstream light guide 46 has a reflection surface 46a that reflects and bends light on the optical axis A2 vertically upward of the downstream LED 42, and on the optical axis A2 reflected by the reflection surface 46a. Light is guided so as to irradiate the lower surface of the coin C on the transparent plate 31 obliquely upward from the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction. The reflection surface 46a is a flat surface that is inclined so as to be located on the upper side toward the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction.

  The upstream light guide 45 and the downstream light guide 46 transmit light on the optical axis A1 of the upstream LED 41 and light on the optical axis A2 of the downstream LED 42 in the coin transport direction on the upper surface of the transparent plate 31. The light is guided toward the same position and irradiated toward the same position in the coin transport direction on the lower surface of the coin C moving in contact with the upper surface of the transparent plate 31. The upstream LED 41, the downstream LED 42, and the light guide plate 37 constitute a lower illumination device 48 that irradiates light to the lower surface of the coin C that moves in contact with the upper surface of the transparent plate 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rod lens 36 has a long shape in the passage width direction, and is provided vertically above the line sensor 38 in parallel with the line sensor 38. The rod lens 36 was guided by the reflected light from the lower surface of the coin C of the upstream LED 41 guided by the upstream light guide 45 of the light guide plate 37 shown in FIG. The reflected light from the lower surface of the coin C of the light of the downstream LED 42 is guided to the line sensor 38. The coin identifying unit 24 guides the reflected light from the lower surface of the coin C of the light from the lower illumination device 48 to the line sensor 38 with the rod lens 36, detects this light with the line sensor 38, and detects the light on the lower surface of the coin C. A pattern detection operation for detecting a pattern is performed. As shown in FIG. 2, the substrate 35 provided with the upstream LED 41, the downstream LED 42 and the line sensor 38, the case 32 provided with the rod lens 36 and the light guide plate 37, and the transparent plate 31 are integrated in advance. It is assembled and unitized.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper illumination device 62 is integrally fixed to the fixed conveyance guide 22 via a plurality of pedestals 61. The upper illumination device 62 includes a substrate 63 that is fixed to the conveyance guide 22 via a plurality of pedestals 61, LEDs 64 that are upper light sources that are attached to the lower surface of the substrate 63 and emit light as shown in FIG. A light guide member 65 that is attached to the lower surface and guides the light of the LED 64 is provided. The LED 64 is aligned with the position in the coin transport direction with the transparent plate 31, and emits light toward the passage portion 21 in the passage width direction by arranging the theoretical optical axis A3 (hereinafter referred to as the optical axis A3) in the passage width direction. Are arranged as follows. That is, LED64 has arrange | positioned the optical axis A3 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to a coin conveyance direction.

  The light guide member 65 is a prism made of a transparent acrylic resin. The light guide member 65 has a light guide portion 71 extending from the LED 64 toward the passage portion 21 along the passage width direction. The light guide 71 has a reflecting surface 71a that reflects and bends the light on the optical axis A3 along the passage width direction toward the passage 21 of the LED 64. The light guide unit 71 is configured such that the light on the optical axis A3 of the LED 64 reflected by the reflection surface 71a is directed vertically downward and is positioned between the conveyance guide 22 on the arrangement side and the coin C on the passage unit 21 at the position of the guide surface 22a. Irradiate to pass nearby. That is, the light guide member 65 guides the light emitted from the LED 64 so that the light on the optical axis A3 is directed vertically downward, and the upper illuminating device 62 directs the light on the optical axis A3 vertically downward. Irradiate the position between the conveyance guide 22 on the arrangement side and the coin C on the passage portion 21.

  The reflecting surface 71a is an upper surface of the end portion on the passage portion 21 side in the passage width direction of the light guide member 65, and is an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be positioned on the lower side toward the tip (conveying guide 23 side). ing. As shown in FIG. 5, the reflecting surface 71 a is a curved surface that is recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member 65. The reflection surface 71a has a constant shape over substantially the entire length in the coin conveyance direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the movable conveyance guide 23 is higher in height than the fixed conveyance guide 22. The transparent guide 31 and the position in the coin conveyance direction are aligned with the conveyance guide 23. A recessed portion 81 that is recessed downward is formed. An upper illumination device 82 is integrally fixed to the movable conveyance guide 23 at the position of the recess 81. The upper illumination device 82 includes a substrate 83 fixed to the conveyance guide 23, an LED 84 that is an upper light source that emits light by being attached to the lower surface of the substrate 83 as shown in FIG. 4, and an LED 84 that is attached to the lower surface of the substrate 83. And a light guide member 85 that guides light. The LED 84 has the same position and height in the coin conveyance direction as the LED 64, and the theoretical optical axis A4 (hereinafter referred to as the optical axis A4) is arranged in the passage width direction to emit light toward the passage portion 21 in the passage width direction. Are arranged to be. That is, the LED 84 has the optical axis A4 arranged in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction, and more specifically, the optical axis A4 is arranged on the same straight line as the optical axis A3.

  The light guide member 85 is a prism made of a transparent acrylic resin. The light guide member 85 includes a light guide portion 91 extending from the LED 84 toward the passage portion 21 along the passage width direction. The light guide 91 matches the position and height in the coin transport direction with the light guide 71. The light guide portion 91 has a reflecting surface 91a that reflects and bends light on the optical axis A4 along the passage width direction toward the passage portion 21 side of the LED 84. The light guide unit 91 is configured such that the light on the optical axis A4 of the LED 84 reflected by the reflection surface 91a is directed vertically downward and is positioned between the conveyance guide 23 on the arrangement side and the coin C on the passage unit 21 on the guide surface 23a. Irradiate to pass nearby. That is, the light guide member 85 guides the light emitted from the LED 84 so that the light on the optical axis A4 is directed vertically downward, and the upper illuminating device 82 directs the light on the optical axis A4 vertically downward. It irradiates the position between the conveyance guide 23 on the arrangement side and the coin C on the passage portion 21.

  The reflection surface 91a is an upper surface of the end portion on the passage portion 21 side in the passage width direction of the light guide member 85, and is an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be positioned on the lower side toward the tip end (conveyance guide 22 side). ing. The reflection surface 91 a is a curved surface that is recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member 85. The reflecting surface 91a has a fixed shape over substantially the entire length in the coin transport direction.

  Here, in the upper illumination devices 62 and 82, the LEDs 64 and 84 are common parts, and the light guide members 65 and 85 are also common parts.

  The coin identifying unit 24 detects the diameter of the coin C by performing a shadow length detection operation in which the line sensor 38 detects the length of the shadow caused by the coin C of the irradiation light of the upper illumination devices 62 and 82.

  In the coin processing apparatus 10 described above, for example, at the time of press molding of a coin of a predetermined denomination, the position of the movable conveyance guide 23 in the passage width direction is adjusted according to the outer diameter of the completed coin of the target denomination. Thus, the distance between the guide surfaces 22a and 23a is set. The distance between the guide surfaces 22a and 23a is larger by a predetermined amount than the outer diameter of the completed coin of the target denomination. In addition, since the outer diameter of the blank coin before press molding is a predetermined amount (about 0.2 mm) smaller than the outer diameter of the completed coin, it can pass between the guide surfaces 22a and 23a together with the completed coin. Yes.

  The coins C after press forming are separated one by one by a coin separating operation unit and fed toward the conveyance path 20, and the coins C thus fed to the conveyance path 20 are fed by a feed unit (not shown). It is conveyed in a line toward the downstream side. The coin C thus conveyed moves on the transparent plate 31 of the coin identifying unit 24. At that time, the coin C blocks the irradiation light of the upper illumination devices 62 and 82. As a result, the irradiation light detected by the line sensor 38 via the rod lens 36 depends on the outer diameter of the coin C. A shadow will occur. The line sensor 38 detects the diameter of the coin C by performing a shadow length detection operation for detecting a shadow corresponding to the outer diameter of the coin C.

  Here, the coin C moves in contact with the guide surface 23a of the transport guide 23 when moving away from both the transport guides 22 and 23, when moving in contact with the guide surface 22a of the transport guide 22 and moving. There is a case to do. When the coin C moves away from both the conveyance guides 22 and 23, a gap is formed on both sides of the coin C in the passage width direction to transmit the irradiation light toward the line sensor 38. There are portions to be detected and portions to detect the irradiation light on both sides thereof. In this case, the coin identifying unit 24 detects the diameter of the coin C based on the maximum value of the distance between the two end positions of the shadow detected by the line sensor 38.

  On the other hand, when the coin C moves in contact with the guide surface 22a of the conveyance guide 22, a gap is formed on the conveyance guide 22 side in the passage width direction of the coin C to transmit the irradiation light toward the line sensor 38. The transition from the existing state to the non-occurring state will occur. At this transition, the line sensor 38 has a portion for detecting shadows and a portion for detecting irradiation light on the guide surface 23a side, and no portion for detecting irradiation light on the guide surface 22a side. It will be. In this case, the coin identifying unit 24 detects the diameter of the coin C based on the maximum value of the distance from the shadow guide surface 23 a side detected by the line sensor 38 to the guide surface 22 a of the transport guide 22.

  Similarly, when the coin C moves in contact with the guide surface 23a of the conveyance guide 23, a gap is formed on the conveyance guide 23 side in the passage width direction of the coin C to transmit the irradiation light toward the line sensor 38. The transition from the present state to the non-occurring state will occur. At this transition, the line sensor 38 has a portion for detecting shadows and a portion for detecting irradiation light on the guide surface 22a side, and no portion for detecting irradiation light on the guide surface 23a side. It will be. In this case, the coin identifying unit 24 detects the diameter of the coin C based on the maximum value of the distance from the shadow guide surface 22 a side detected by the line sensor 38 to the guide surface 23 a of the transport guide 23.

  The coin identifying unit 24 performs the pattern detection operation in parallel with the above-described shadow length detection operation. At this time, the coin illumination unit 24 uses the lower illumination device 48 based on the shadow length detected by the shadow length detection operation. The start and end of the pattern detection operation in which the line sensor 38 detects the reflected light from the lower surface of the light coin C is determined. In the pattern detection operation, whether or not there is a pattern on the lower surface of the coin C is detected by the reflected light detected by the line sensor 38.

  That is, the coin identifying unit 24 causes the line sensor 38 to perform the pattern detection operation at the timing when the line sensor 38 detects the reflected light in the middle predetermined range in the coin transport direction on the lower surface of the coin C. The timing for detecting the reflected light in the range is controlled based on the shadow length detected by the shadow length detection operation.

  Specifically, when the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation is gradually increased from the absence state and reaches a predetermined length, capturing of reflected light in a predetermined range inside the passage width direction of the line sensor 38 is started. . This predetermined length is a length by which it can be determined that the coin C has reached the position where the reflected light at the end position downstream in the transport direction of the intermediate predetermined range in the coin transport direction has been detected by the line sensor 38. Thereafter, the line sensor 38 continues to capture the reflected light within the predetermined range, and the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation is gradually shortened. The capturing of the reflected light within a predetermined range inside is terminated. This predetermined length is a length by which it can be determined that the coin C has reached the position where the reflected light at the end position upstream in the transport direction in the intermediate predetermined range in the coin transport direction is detected by the line sensor 38. Here, the lower illuminating device 48 irradiates light only on the inner predetermined range in the passage width direction of the coin C so as not to affect the shadow length detection operation by the line sensor 38.

  Then, the coin identifying unit 24 determines whether the detected coin C is the blank of the target denomination or not based on the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation and the presence / absence of the pattern detected by the pattern detection operation. Whether it is a completed coin, a blank coin other than the target denomination, or a completed coin other than the target denomination is determined.

  That is, when the detected coin C can be determined to be a blank coin of the target denomination from the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation, and the pattern cannot be detected on the lower surface of the coin C by the pattern detection operation. The coin C is determined to be a blank of the target denomination.

  In addition, when the detected coin C can be determined as a completed coin of the target denomination from the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation, and a pattern can be detected on the lower surface of the coin C by the pattern detection operation. Determines that this coin C is a completed coin of the target denomination.

  Moreover, from the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation, it was not possible to determine that the detected coin C was a blank coin of the target denomination, and a pattern could not be detected on the lower surface of the coin C by the pattern detection operation. In the case, it is determined that the detected coin C is a blank coin other than the target denomination.

  In addition, when the detected coin C cannot be determined as a completed coin of the target denomination from the length of the shadow detected by the shadow length detection operation, and a pattern can be detected on the lower surface of the coin C by the pattern detection operation. It is determined that the detected coin C is a completed coin other than the target denomination.

  The coin identifying unit 24 excludes the coins C other than the coin C determined to be the completed coin of the target denomination from the passage unit 21 by a reject unit (not shown) on the downstream side, and determines that there is a completed coin of the target denomination. Separated from coin C.

  According to the present embodiment described above, it is integrally fixed to each of the pair of transport guides 22 and 23, and the light on the optical axes A3 and A4 is directed vertically downward and the transport guide and passage portion 21 on the arrangement side. Since the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 for irradiating the position between the upper coin C and the upper coin C are provided, even if one of the conveyance guides 23 is moved in the passage width direction and the passage width is variable, the conveyance guides 22 and 23 and the passage portion are always provided. It is possible to irradiate light toward the position between the coins C on 21. Therefore, even when the passage width is variable and light is irradiated from above, the coin C can be irradiated with light satisfactorily. In addition, since the upper illumination device 82 is arranged integrally with the conveyance guide 23, if the conveyance guide 23 is moved in the passage width direction, the upper illumination device 82 is also automatically moved in the passage width direction. Therefore, a dedicated mechanism for moving the upper illumination device 82 in the passage width direction is not required, and cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.

  Further, the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 irradiate light on the optical axes A3 and A4 of the LEDs 64 and 84 vertically downward so as to pass through the vicinity of the guide surfaces 22a and 23a. Even when the distance from the guide surfaces 22a and 23a is reduced, the amount of light can be secured, and the line sensor 38 can detect the edge of the shadow satisfactorily.

  Moreover, since the shadow length detection operation which detects the length of the shadow by the coin C of the irradiation light of the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 by the inexpensive and compact line sensor 38 is performed to detect the diameter of the coin C, the cost is reduced. The coin C can be identified by detecting the diameter of the coin C while saving space.

  Further, when the lower illumination device 48 irradiates the lower surface of the coin C with light, the line sensor 38 that detects the diameter of the coin C with the light of the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 causes the light from the lower illumination device 48 to be emitted from the coin C. A pattern detection operation for detecting the reflected light and detecting the pattern on the lower surface of the coin C is performed. Therefore, the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 irradiate light according to the detection of the diameter of the coin C, and the lower illumination device 48 emits light according to the detection of the pattern of the coin C. The diameter of the coin C and the pattern of the lower surface of the coin C can be detected by detecting with the sensor 38. Therefore, detection suitable for the detection item can be performed while reducing costs and saving space.

  Further, the line sensor 38 determines the start and end of the pattern detection operation based on the shadow length detected by the shadow length detection operation that detects the length of the shadow by the coin C of the irradiation light of the upper illumination devices 62 and 82. Therefore, it is possible to determine the start and end of the pattern detection operation with good timing. A dedicated timing sensor for determining the start and end of the pattern detection operation is not required, and cost and space can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the coin identification part 24 identifies whether the coin C is a blank coin, it does not need to perform exact identification. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently identify the shadow length detection operation and the pattern detection operation by the line sensor 38.

  Moreover, since the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 include the LEDs 64 and 84 and the light guide members 65 and 85 that guide the light on the optical axes A3 and A4 of the LEDs 64 and 84 so as to be directed vertically downward, The degree of freedom of the layout of 84 is increased.

  Further, the LEDs 64 and 84 are arranged so that the optical axes A3 and A4 are arranged in the passage width direction, and the light guide members 65 and 85 emit light emitted from the LEDs 64 and 84 toward the passage portion 21 side in the passage width direction. Since the light is guided vertically downward by the reflecting surfaces 71a and 91a that are inclined so as to be positioned on the lower end toward the tip of the end portion on the side of the portion 21, the upper illumination devices 62 and 82 are reduced in size and simplified. Can be planned.

  Moreover, since the reflective surfaces 71a and 91a are curved surfaces that are recessed toward the inner side of the light guide members 65 and 85, the light irradiation range is expanded in the passage width direction as exemplified by the reflective surface 71a in FIG. be able to. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the reflective surfaces 71 a and 91 a are recessed so that the plurality of flat surface portions 100 having different angles are directed toward the inner side of the light guide members 65 and 85 as a whole. You may form by connecting. Also in this case, the light irradiation range can be expanded in the passage width direction.

  In the above description, only one of the transport guides 22 and 23 is movable in the passage width direction, but only the other transport guide 22 may be movable in the passage width direction. Both of them may be movable in the passage width direction. That is, it is sufficient that at least one of the conveyance guides 22 and 23 is movable in the passage width direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coin processing apparatus 21 Passage part 22,23 Transport guide 22a, 23a Guide surface 24 Coin identification part 38 Line sensor 48 Lower illumination apparatus 62, 82 Upper illumination apparatus 64, 84 LED (light source)
65, 85 Light guide member 71a, 91a Reflecting surface (inclined surface)
C coin

Claims (9)

A passage section for guiding the lower surface of the coin;
A pair of conveyance guides for guiding the outer peripheral surface of the coin on both sides in the passage width direction;
A coin processing unit having a coin identifying unit that detects light transmitted through the passage unit below the passage unit and identifies a coin,
At least one of the pair of transport guides is movable in the passage width direction;
An upper illumination device that is integrally fixed to each of the pair of transport guides and irradiates light on the optical axis vertically downward to a position between the transport guide on the arrangement side and the coin on the passage portion. A coin processing apparatus.   The coin identifying unit has a line sensor extending in the passage width direction below the passage unit, and detects the shadow length of the upper illumination device by the coin by the line sensor. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coin processing apparatus detects the diameter of the coin by performing an operation.   The coin identification unit has a lower illumination device that irradiates light on the lower surface of the coin, and a pattern of detecting a pattern on the lower surface of the coin by detecting reflected light from the coin of the light from the lower illumination device with the line sensor. 3. The coin processing device according to claim 2, wherein a detection operation is performed.   4. The coin processing device according to claim 3, wherein the coin identifying unit determines start and end of the pattern detection operation based on a shadow length detected by the shadow length detection operation.   5. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin identifying unit identifies whether or not the coin is a blank coin.   The coin according to claim 1, wherein the upper illumination device includes a light source and a light guide member that guides light on an optical axis of the light source so as to be directed vertically downward. Processing equipment. The light source will emit light toward the passage portion side in the passage width direction by arranging the optical axis in the passage width direction,
The coin processing according to claim 6, wherein the light guide member has an inclined surface that is inclined so that an upper surface of an end portion on the passage portion side in the passage width direction is positioned on a lower side toward the tip. apparatus.   The coin processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface is a curved surface that is recessed toward the inner side of the light guide member.   8. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface is configured such that a plurality of surface portions having different angles are concaved toward the inner side of the light guide member as a whole.

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