JP4370740B2

JP4370740B2 - Coin sorting machine

Info

Publication number: JP4370740B2
Application number: JP2001240145A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 伸二横森
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-08
Filing date: 2001-08-08
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-08
Also published as: JP2003051043A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は自動販売機などに搭載され、投入された硬貨の通路に沿って硬貨選別用のセンサを設け、この硬貨選別用センサの出力に基づいて硬貨通路を通過する硬貨の真偽を判別する電子式の硬貨選別装置であって、特に硬貨表面の凹凸を検知する能力を高めた硬貨選別装置に関する。
【０００２】
なお、以下各図において同一の符号は同一もしくは相当部分を示す。
【０００３】
【従来の技術】
図９はこの種の電子式硬貨選別装置のセンサ部分を単純化した原理構造を示す。硬貨投入口１から投入された硬貨３は、硬貨通路２を転動し、この硬貨通路２に沿って設けられた選別コイルより成る硬貨選別センサＳによって後述のようにその特性を検出される。
【０００４】
なお、硬貨選別センサＳは、断面がＥ型の対のポットコア（壺型コア）にそれぞれコイルを収納し、この対のポットコアを、その開口面が硬貨通路の壁面上で互いに対向するように（従って開口面が硬貨の面に対向できるように）配設し、この開口面同士が対向するギャップ内を硬貨が通過して行くように構成されている。また、対のコイルは互いに接続されて１つの選別コイルを形成している。
【０００５】
硬貨選別センサＳによって検出された特性値のピーク値は、予め定められている金種別の上限値および下限値と比較され、検出特性値がこの上限値および下限値の間にある金種があれば当該の硬貨をその金種の正貨と判定し、それ以外は偽貨と判定する。
そして、この判定結果に基づいて振り分け用のゲート４を駆動して、正貨は正貨通路５に振り分けて収納し、偽貨は返却通路６に振り分けて返却するようにしている。
【０００６】
図１０は、図９の硬貨選別センサＳによって投入硬貨の正偽を判定する一連の回路の構成の一例を示すブロック回路図、図１１は図１０の動作を硬貨選別センサから得られる硬貨特性の波形データによって説明する特性図である。
図１０において、硬貨選別センサＳ，インダクタンスＬ，抵抗Ｒ１，Ｒ２でブリッジ回路１０を構成し、このブリッジ回路１０の電源として発振器ＯＳＣが接続されている。
【０００７】
このブリッジ回路１０の検出電圧は差動増幅回路１１に接続され、その出力電圧は整流回路１２，Ａ／Ｄ変換器１３を通してデジタル値の検出特性値Ａに変換され、差算出回路１４に入力される。
差算出回路の他の入力端子には、硬貨選別装置ごとのバラツキを補正するために中心値メモり１７から出力される硬貨金種別の中心値Ｍが与えられ、この差算出回路１４からは検出特性値Ａから各中心値Ｍを引いた金種別の差の絶対値｜Ａ−Ｍ｜が出力され比較回路１５に入力される。
【０００８】
比較回路１５の他の入力端子には許容差メモリ１８から出力される金種別の許容差Ｎが与えられており、比較回路１５は各金種別の差の絶対値｜Ａ−Ｍ｜をそれぞれ対応する金種についての許容量Ｎと順次比較し、｜Ａ−Ｍ｜≦Ｎの場合、すなわち（Ｍ−Ｎ）≦Ａ≦（Ｍ＋Ｎ）のときは論理“１”を出力し、｜Ａ−Ｍ｜＞Ｎの場合は“０”を出力し、判定回路ｌ６に入力する。
【０００９】
図１１（Ａ）は、硬貨通路２（図９）に硬貨３が投入されたときのＡ／Ｄ変換器１３の出力値（検出特性値）Ａの経時変化（つまり、硬貨選別センサＳから得られる硬貨特性の波形データ）を、同図（Ｂ）は、同国（Ａ）に対応する比較回路１５の出力ＣＰの経時変化をそれぞれ示す。
ここで正貨判定は同図（Ａ）のように、硬貨３が硬貨選別センサＳを通過したときの検出特性値Ａのピーク値がある金種についての（Ｍ−Ｎ）と（Ｍ＋Ｎ）の間にあったとき同図（Ｂ）のように当該金種の正貨と判定する。すなわち、この例では判定回路１６に１回だけ“１”となるパルスが比較回路１５から入力したときに正貨と判定する。
【００１０】
なお、前記の許容差Ｎとしては、これに代わり金種ごとの中心値Ｍに対する上限幅Ｎ_Hと下限幅Ｎ_Lとに分けて指定する場合もある。この場合は、（Ｍ−Ｎ_L）≦Ａ≦（Ｍ＋Ｎ_H）のとき比較回路１５の出力は“１”となり、Ａ＜（Ｍ−Ｎ_L）または（Ｍ＋Ｎ_H）＜Ａのとき“０”となる。
図７は従来の現実の硬貨選別装置における、硬貨選別センサの配置例を示す。即ち硬貨が転動する硬貨通路２に沿って材質センサＳ１，外径センサＳ２，板厚センサＳ３が設けられており、この各センサＳ１〜Ｓ３それぞれに図１０と同様な回路が設けられて、各センサＳ１〜Ｓ３が当該センサに対応する図１０と同様な回路内に硬貨選別センサＳに代わって組み込まれている。
【００１１】
そして、これら材質センサＳ１，外径センサＳ２，板厚センサＳ３を介してそれぞれ得られた硬貨特性の波形データ（つまりＡ／Ｄ変換器１３の出力）のピーク値を当該硬貨の材質，外径，板厚の特性値として検出し、この各検出特性値のピーク値が何れも、硬貨選別センサＳの場合と同様に、ある金種の硬貨にそれぞれ対応する所定の範囲にあれば、その金種の正貨と判定していた。
【００１２】
なお、図８は特に図７の板厚センサＳ３の、硬貨通路２を挟んで対をなすポットコアＳ３Ｐの片方を示した斜視図で、３１は全体として一体をなすポットコアＳ３Ｐの一部を形成する円柱状の磁極部、３２は磁極部３１のポットコア開口面側の端面となる円形の磁極面、３３はポットコアＳ３Ｐの一部を形成する円筒状の外壁である。
【００１３】
磁極部３１を付勢する図外のコイルは磁極部３１と外壁３３との間の空間に収納される。そして対のポットコアＳ３Ｐは、その磁極面３２が硬貨通路２を挟んで互いに対向するように配設されている。
【００１４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし上述した従来の構成の硬貨選別装置では外国貨の外径や板厚を加工した変造貨を日本の正貨と判定することがあり、変造貨が不正使用されることがあった。
本発明はこのような変造貨を正しく偽貨として選別することができる硬貨選別装置を提供することを目的とする。
【００１５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記の課題を解決するために、請求項１の硬貨選別装置は、
発振器（ＯＳＣ）を電源とする複数のセンサ（材質センサＳ１，外径センサＳ２，板厚センサＳ３０など）を硬貨通路（２）に沿って配置し、（検出回路１０１〜１０３、整流回路１２１〜１２３、Ａ／Ｄ変換器１３１〜１３３、判定手段１６１〜１６４、総合真偽判定手段２００などを介し）該硬貨通路上の硬貨（３）の通過に伴って前記の各センサより得られる信号波形から当該硬貨の真偽を判定する硬貨選別装置であって、
前記センサの少なくとも１つ（Ｓ３０など、以下、特定センサという）が、前記硬貨通路を挟みつつ、該硬貨通路の両側面間の中央を通る平面（以下通路中央面という）に対し、少なくとも該通路中央面の近傍では、面対称の構造を持つて対となる鉄心を備え、
この対の鉄心の各々は、前記通路中央面側を向き、該通路中央面に平行で、ほぼ所定長の短辺と長辺からなる長方形状の磁極面（３０２Ａ，３０２Ｂ）を端面とし、前記通路中央面に垂直に反通路中央面側へ延びる角柱状のほぼ同形状の２つの磁極部（３０１Ａ，３０１Ｂ）を持ち、
この２つの磁極部は、その前記端面同士がほぼ同一平面に含まれ、該端面の前記長方形の長辺が硬貨の進行方向と直交し、且つこの長辺同士が所定の隙間を置いて平行となるように並ぶと共に、この２つの磁極部の磁極面が互いに異極性となり、且つ前記硬貨通路を挟み対向する対の磁極面間では同極性となるように前記発振器を電源とするコイル（３０５ａ〜３０５ｄ）によって付勢され、
さらに、前記対の鉄心の各々に対応し、前記コイルの付勢に基づき当該の鉄心を出入りする磁束が少なくとも隣接するセンサに干渉することを防ぐための磁気遮蔽手段（外壁３０３など）を備えたものとする。
【００１６】
また請求項２の硬貨選別装置は、請求項１に記載の硬貨選別装置において、
前記長方形の長辺同士の所定の隙間が１ｍｍから３ｍｍに含まれるようにする。
また請求項３の硬貨選別装置は、請求項１または２に記載の硬貨選別装置において、
前記長方形の短辺の長さが１ｍｍから３ｍｍに含まれるようにする。
【００１７】
また請求項４の硬貨選別装置は、請求項１ないし３のいずれかに記載の硬貨選別装置において、
前記長方形の長辺の長さが３ｍｍ以上であるようにする。
また請求項５の硬貨選別装置は、請求項１ないし４のいずれかに記載の硬貨選別装置において、
前記対の鉄心の各々と、この各鉄心に対応する磁気遮蔽手段とをそれぞれポットコア（Ｓ３０Ｐ）で一体に構成するようにする。
【００１８】
また請求項６の硬貨選別装置は、請求項１ないし５のいずれかに記載の硬貨選別装置において、
前記硬貨通路上の硬貨の通過に伴って前記特定センサから得られる信号波形内の所定レベル（基準レベルＬＶＳ）以上の信号領域についての所定の時間間隔（例えば１ｍＳ）のサンプリングによって求めた、信号の大きさを示す時系列のデータ列を所定の第１の複数個（ｎ）の区間に等分し、この等分された区間ごとのデータの代表値（当該区間の境界値，平均値，最大値または最小値としてのＸ₁，Ｘ₂，・・・Ｘ_n-1）のうち、少なくとも所定の第２の複数個の区間のデータの代表値（例えば、Ｘ_m-1，Ｘ_m，Ｘ_m+1）を用いて当該の硬貨の真偽を判定する真偽判定手段（凹凸判定手段１６４）を備えたものとする。
【００１９】
本発明の作用を要約すれば、板厚センサの構造を変えて硬貨の板厚のみならず、硬貨表面の凹凸を高精度に検出できるようにし、外国貨を加工した変造貨を排除しやすくするものである。
即ち、外壁と、それぞれほぼ長方形の磁極面を端面とし、この磁極面の長方形の長辺を平行にして並ぶ角柱状の２つの磁極部とを有し、組み込まれたコイルによって前記の２つの磁極面が互いに異極性となるように励磁されるポットコアを、硬貨通路の両側に、片側のポットコアの２つの磁極と反対側のポットコアの２つの磁極との磁極同士が同極性で対向し合うように（換言すれば、硬貨通路を挟んで対となるポットコアのコイル同士を逆相接続し）、且つ前記磁極面の長方形の長辺が硬貨の進行方向に直交するように配置して板厚センサを構成する。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は、本発明の硬貨選別装置のセンサ部分全体の概略配置を示す正面図である。本発明の硬貨選別装置においても図７と同様に投入硬貨が転動する硬貨通路２に沿って、投入硬貨の材質，外径，板厚を検知するセンサがそれぞれ配置されている。
【００２１】
ここで材質センサＳ１，外径センサＳ２は図７と同じものであるが、板厚センサは、板厚のほかに硬貨の面上の凹凸を高精度で検知できる、外形の四角な板厚センサＳ３０に置き換わっている。
図２は、硬貨通路２の上方から見たセンサ部分全体の断面を示す。また図３は、図１の板厚センサＳ３０の部分の拡大図で、この図３は硬貨通路２を転動降下する硬貨３の進行方向に対する板厚センサＳ３０の磁極面３０２Ａと３０２Ｂの配置を示す。
【００２２】
図４は板厚センサＳ３０の細部の構成を示し、同図（Ａ）は板厚センサＳ３０のポットコアＳ３０Ｐの形状を示す斜視図、同図（Ｃ）は硬貨通路２の上方から見た板厚センサＳ３０の断面図、同図（Ｂ）と（Ｄ）はそれぞれ、対をなす板厚センサＳ３０の片側を同図（Ｃ）のＰとＱの矢印方向に見た図である。
図４（Ａ）に示すように、板厚センサＳ３０のポットコアＳ３０Ｐは、２つの磁極部３０１Ａ，３０１Ｂと、この２つの磁極部を囲む外壁３０３とを備えている。
【００２３】
そして、２つの磁極部３０１Ａと３０１Ｂは、所定のほぼ長方形の端面を持つ角柱状に形成され、この長方形の長辺に対応する側面同士が所定の隙間を置いて平行となるように並んでいる。
ポットコアＳ３０Ｐの外壁３０３は、磁極部３０１Ａと３０１Ｂを出入りする磁束が外壁３０３の外方へ流出して、隣接するセンサ、本例では外径センサＳ２、に影響を及ぼしたりすることを防ぎ、検銭の精度を高める役割を持つ。
【００２４】
なお、磁極部３０１Ａ，３０１Ｂのそれぞれの磁極面３０２Ａ，３０２Ｂと外壁３０３のポットコア開放面側の端面は図４（Ｃ）に示すように、ほぼ１つの平面に含まれ、且つ磁極部３０１Ａ，３０１Ｂおよび外壁３０３についてのポットコアの非開放面側の端面に相当する部分はポットコアの底面部３０４に一体に結合されている。
【００２５】
また、図４（Ｂ）〜図４（Ｄ）に示すように、対の一方のポットコアＳ３０Ｐの磁極部３０１Ａと３０１Ｂにはそれぞれコイル３０５ａと３０５ｂが巻かれており、他方のポットコアＳ３０Ｐの磁極部３０１Ａと３０１Ｂにはそれぞれコイル３０５ｃと３０５ｄが巻かれている。なお、本例では後述の図５に示すようにコイル３０５ａと３０５ｂ、および３０５ｃと３０５ｄはそれぞれ直列に接続され、さらに直列コイル３０５ａ，３０５ｂと直列コイル３０５ｃ，３０５ｄも直列に接続されている。
【００２６】
図４（Ｂ）と図４（Ｄ）の一点鎖線の矢印は、発振器ＯＳＣを電源として各コイル３０５ａ〜３０５ｄを流れる高周波電流の或る同一時点における電流の方向を示し、図４（Ｃ）の点線の矢印はこの時点において、２つのポットコアＳ３０Ｐそれぞれの磁極面３０２Ａと３０２Ｂ間を出入りする磁束φの方向を示す。
この図４（Ｃ）から明らかなように、同一のポットコアＳ３０Ｐ内の磁極面３０２Ａと３０２Ｂは異極性となり、且つ対のポットコアＳ３０Ｐの硬貨通路２を挟んで対向する磁極面３０２Ａ同士および３０２Ｂ同士はそれぞれ同極性となるように、各磁極部３０１Ａと３０１Ｂの励磁が行われる。
【００２７】
換言すれば、対のポットコアＳ３０Ｐの各々の直列コイル３０５ａ，３０５ｂと３０５ｃ，３０５ｄとは逆相接続されている。
この板厚センサＳ３０は図３に示すように、ポットコアＳ３０Ｐの、ほぼ長方形をなす磁極面３０２Ａと３０２Ｂの長辺が硬貨３の進行方向に対して直交するように配置されている。
【００２８】
このような磁極面３０２Ａ，３０２Ｂの配置、形状およびその寸法は硬貨の凹凸の検出精度を高めるために重要であり、例えば、磁極面３０２Ａと３０２Ｂとの硬貨進行方向の隙間は１ないし３ｍｍ、磁極面の長方形の短辺の長さは１ないし３ｍｍ、また磁極面の長方形の長辺の長さは３ｍｍ以上であることが望ましい。
【００２９】
図５は本発明の硬貨選別装置の制御回路の要部の構成を示すブロック図である。同図において、硬貨通路２を挟み同相接続されたコイルＳ１ａ，Ｓ１ｂからなる材質センサＳ１は検出回路１０１に接続され、検出回路１０１の出力は整流回路１２１によって整流され、さらにＡ／Ｄ変換器１３１によりデジタル値に変換されて材質判定手段１６１に入力されている。
【００３０】
同様に硬貨通路２を挟み同相接続されたコイルＳ２ａ，Ｓ２ｂからなる外径センサＳ２は検出回路１０２に接続され、検出回路１０２の出力は整流回路１２２によって整流され、さらにＡ／Ｄ変換器１３２によりデジタル値に変換されて外径判定手段１６２に入力されている。
また、図４で述べた直列接続のコイル３０５ａ，３０５ｂと３０５ｃ，３０５ｄとが硬貨通路２を挟んで逆相接続された板厚センサＳ３０も同様に検出回路１０３に接続され、検出回路１０３の出力は整流回路１２３によって整流され、さらにＡ／Ｄ変換器１３３によりデジタル値に変換されるが、このＡ／Ｄ変換器１３３のデジタル出力は板厚判定手段１６３に入力されるほか、凹凸判定手段１６４にも入力される。
【００３１】
そして、各判定手段１６１〜１６４の判定結果は総合真偽判定手段２００に入力され、最終的に当該の投入硬貨の真偽が判定される。
ここで、検出回路１０１，１０２，１０３は何れも図１０のブリッジ回路１０，発振器ＯＳＣ，差動増幅回路１１からなる回路から硬貨選別センサＳのみを除いた回路と同様な構成を持ち、この各構成回路にそれぞれ材質センサＳ１，外径センサＳ２，板厚センサＳ３０が硬貨選別センサＳに置換わる形で接続されている。
【００３２】
整流回路１２１，１２２，１２３は何れも図１０の整流回路１２に相当し、Ａ／Ｄ変換器１３１，１３２，１３３は何れも図１０のＡ／Ｄ変換器１３に相当する。
また、材質判定手段１６１，外径判定手段１６２，板厚判定手段１６３も何れも図１０の差検出回路１４，比較回路１５，判定回路１６，中心値メモリ１７，許容差メモリ１８からなる回路と同様な構成を持っている。
【００３３】
このような構成により、材質判定手段１６１は従来と同様、Ａ／Ｄ変換器１３１の出力である材質センサＳ１からの波形データ、つまり当該硬貨の材質の検出特性値のピーク値が、図１１で述べたと同様に、材質に関わり且つ硬貨選別装置ごとに金種別に定まる中心値Ｍを挟む、金種別の所定の上下限幅内にあるか否かを金種毎に調べ、ピーク値が上下限幅内にある金種が存在すれば真，存在しなければ偽の仮判定信号を出力する。
【００３４】
同様に、外径判定手段１６２もＡ／Ｄ変換器１３２の出力である外径センサＳ２からの波形データ、つまり当該硬貨の外径の検出特性値のピーク値が、外径に関わり且つ硬貨選別装置ごとに金種別に定まる中心値Ｍを挟む、金種別の所定の上下限幅内にあるか否かを金種毎に調べ、該当する金種が存在すれば真，存在しなければ偽の仮判定信号を出力する。
【００３５】
また同様に、板厚判定手段１６３もＡ／Ｄ変換器１３３の出力である板厚センサＳ３０からの波形データ、つまり当該硬貨の板厚の検出特性値のピーク値が、板厚に関わり且つ硬貨選別装置ごとに金種別に定まる中心値Ｍを挟む、金種別の所定の上下限幅内にあるか否かを金種毎に調べ、該当する金種が存在すれば真，存在しなければ偽の仮判定信号を出力する。
【００３６】
次に凹凸判定手段１６４の動作を述べる。なお、この凹凸判定手段１６４の動作は本出願人の先願になる特開２００１−１６７３１０号公報記載の模様判定手段の動作と同様である。
図６は当該の投入硬貨について、板厚センサＳ３０から得られた時系列の波形データをモデル的に示す図である。即ち、同図において横軸は時間ｔを示し、
縦軸はＡ／Ｄ変換器１３３が出力する板厚センサＳ３０からの検出波形のデジタル変換値Ｘを示すものとする。
【００３７】
図６の例では板厚センサＳ３０から得られた波形はＡＤコンバータ１３３によって約１ｍＳの間隔でサンプリングされ、凹凸判定手段１６４は、このサンプリング値としてのデジタル変換値Ｘが、図上に一点鎖線で示す所定レベルＬＶＳを超えてからこの所定レベルＬＶＳ以下になるまでの間、それぞれのサンプリング値を順次、図外のメモリに記憶する。
【００３８】
凹凸判定手段１６４は、このサンプリングが終了すると得られた時系列順に並ぶサンプリングデータ列の区間をｎ個に等分割し、この分割された区間ごとのデータの代表値（本例では境界値）Ｘ₁，Ｘ₂，・・・，Ｘ_n-1を求める。
凹凸判定手段１６４は、この代表値をもとに次式（１）で示される特性値Ｚを計算する。
【００３９】
【数１】
Ｚ＝Ａ₁・Ｘ₁＋Ａ₂・Ｘ₂＋・・・＋Ａ_n-1・Ｘ_n-1 ・・・（１）
ここでデータ代表値Ｘ₁，Ｘ₂，・・・，Ｘ_n-1のそれぞれに対応する重み係数Ａ₁，Ａ₂，・・・，Ａ_n-1は特性値Ｚの特徴を出やすくする定数である。
【００４０】
例えば、図６に示される代表値Ｘ₁，Ｘ₂，・・・，Ｘ_n-1から、重み係数Ａ_m-1＝１、Ａ_m＝−２、Ａ_m+1＝１、その他の重み係数Ａ_i＝０（但しｉ＝１，２，・・・ｎ−１のうちｍ−１，ｍ，ｍ＋１を除く）として、次式（２）で示される特性値Ｚを求めるようにすれば、この式（２）から硬貨の中心部の凹凸の大きさを得ることができる。
【００４１】
【数２】
Ｚ＝Ｘ_m-1−２Ｘ_m＋Ｘ_m+1 ・・・（２）
なお、この例ではｎ分割したデータ区間の境界の値を代表値としたが、ｎ個の各区間ごとのサンプリングデータの平均値，最大値あるいは最小値を代表値としてもよい。
【００４２】
凹凸判定手段１６４は、このようにして求めた特性値Ｚが、図１１で述べたと同様に、この特性値Ｚに関わり且つ硬貨選別装置ごとに金種別に定まる中心値Ｍを挟む、金種別の所定の上下限幅内にあるか否かを金種毎に調べる。
そして、特性値Ｚがこの上下限幅内にある金種が存在すれば真，存在しなければ偽の仮判定信号を出力する。
【００４３】
総合判定手段２００は材質判定手段１６１，外径判定手段１６２，板厚判定手段１６３，凹凸判定手段１６４の真，偽の仮判定信号を総合し、判定手段１６１〜１６４の全ての仮判定信号が真である金種が存在するとき、当該の投入硬貨をその金種の正貨であると判定する。
【００４４】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、複数のセンサを硬貨通路に沿って配置し、該硬貨通路上の硬貨の通過に伴って前記の各センサより得られる信号波形から当該硬貨の真偽を判定する電子式の硬貨選別装置において、
外壁と、それぞれほぼ長方形の磁極面を端面とし、この磁極面の長方形の長辺を平行にして並ぶ角柱状の２つの磁極部とを有し、組み込まれたコイルによって前記の２つの磁極面が互いに異極性となるように励磁されるポットコアを、硬貨通路の両側に、片側のポットコアの２つの磁極と反対側のポットコアの２つの磁極との磁極同士が同極性で対向し合うように、且つ前記磁極面の長方形の長辺が硬貨の進行方向に直交するように配置して板厚センサを構成するようにしたので、
この板厚センサから硬貨の板厚のみならず、硬貨表面の凹凸を高精度に検出することができるようになり、正貨と近似した外国貨の変造貨を容易に排除することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施例としての硬貨選別装置の要部の原理構造を示す正面図
【図２】図１の硬貨通路の上方から見たセンサ部分の断面図
【図３】図１の板厚センサ部分の拡大図
【図４】本発明の一実施例としての板厚センサの詳細構成を示す図
【図５】本発明の一実施例としての制御回路の構成図
【図６】図５の凹凸判定手段の動作説明用の波形図
【図７】従来装置の図１に対応する正面図
【図８】従来の板厚センサのポットコアの斜視図
【図９】図７のセンサ部分を単純化した原理構造図
【図１０】従来装置の要部の回路構成を示すブロック回路図
【図１１】図１０の動作説明用の特性図
【符号の説明】
１硬貨投入口
２硬貨通路
３硬貨
４ゲート
５正貨通路
６返却通路
１０ブリッジ回路
１１差動増幅回路
ＯＳＣ発振器
Ｓ１材質センサ
Ｓ２外径センサ
Ｓ３０板厚センサ
Ｓ３０Ｐポットコア
１０１〜１０３検出回路
１２１〜１２３整流回路
１３１〜１３３Ａ／Ｄ変換器
１６１材質判定手段
１６２外径判定手段
１６３板厚判定手段
１６４凹凸判定手段
２００総合真偽判定手段
３０１Ａ，３０１Ｂ磁極部
３０２Ａ，３０２Ｂ磁極面
３０３外壁
３０４底面部
３０５ａ〜３０５ｄコイル[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is mounted on a vending machine or the like, and is provided with a coin sorting sensor along the path of the inserted coin, and determines the authenticity of the coin passing through the coin path based on the output of the coin sorting sensor. The present invention relates to an electronic coin sorter, and more particularly to a coin sorter with an increased ability to detect irregularities on the coin surface.
[0002]
In the following drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.
[0003]
[Prior art]
FIG. 9 shows a principle structure in which the sensor portion of this type of electronic coin sorter is simplified. The coin 3 inserted from the coin insertion slot 1 rolls in the coin passage 2, and its characteristic is detected as will be described later by a coin sorting sensor S composed of a sorting coil provided along the coin passage 2.
[0004]
In the coin sorting sensor S, coils are housed in a pair of pot cores (saddle cores) having an E-shaped cross section, and the pair of pot cores are arranged so that their opening surfaces face each other on the wall surface of the coin passage ( Therefore, the opening surface is arranged so that it can face the coin surface, and the coin passes through the gap where the opening surfaces face each other. The pair of coils are connected to each other to form one selection coil.
[0005]
The peak value of the characteristic value detected by the coin sorting sensor S is compared with a predetermined upper limit value and lower limit value of the denomination, and there is a denomination whose detection characteristic value is between the upper limit value and the lower limit value. For example, the coin is determined to be a denomination of the denomination, and otherwise, it is determined to be a fake coin.
Based on the determination result, the sorting gate 4 is driven so that the true coins are sorted and stored in the genuine coin passage 5 and the false coins are sorted and returned to the return passage 6.
[0006]
FIG. 10 is a block circuit diagram showing an example of a configuration of a series of circuits for determining whether the inserted coin is correct or not by the coin sorting sensor S of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 shows the operation of FIG. 10 of the coin characteristics obtained from the coin sorting sensor. It is a characteristic view demonstrated with waveform data.
In FIG. 10, a coin sorting sensor S, an inductance L, and resistors R1 and R2 constitute a bridge circuit 10, and an oscillator OSC is connected as a power source of the bridge circuit 10.
[0007]
The detection voltage of the bridge circuit 10 is connected to the differential amplifier circuit 11, and the output voltage is converted into a digital detection characteristic value A through the rectifier circuit 12 and the A / D converter 13 and input to the difference calculation circuit 14. The
The other input terminal of the difference calculation circuit is provided with the center value M of the coin money type output from the center value memory 17 in order to correct the variation for each coin sorting device, and is detected from the difference calculation circuit 14. The absolute value | A−M | of the money type difference obtained by subtracting each central value M from the characteristic value A is output and input to the comparison circuit 15.
[0008]
The other input terminal of the comparison circuit 15 is provided with the tolerance N of the money type output from the tolerance memory 18, and the comparison circuit 15 corresponds to the absolute value | A−M | of the difference of each money type. Is sequentially compared with the allowable amount N for the denominations to be output. When | A−M | ≦ N, that is, when (M−N) ≦ A ≦ (M + N), a logic “1” is output, and | A−M When |> N, “0” is output and input to the determination circuit 16.
[0009]
FIG. 11A shows a change with time in the output value (detection characteristic value) A of the A / D converter 13 when the coin 3 is inserted into the coin passage 2 (FIG. 9) (that is, obtained from the coin sorting sensor S). (B) shows the change over time in the output CP of the comparison circuit 15 corresponding to the country (A).
Here, the true coin determination is made of (MN) and (M + N) for denominations having a peak value of the detection characteristic value A when the coin 3 passes the coin sorting sensor S as shown in FIG. When it is in between, it is determined to be a denomination of the denomination as shown in FIG. That is, in this example, when a pulse that is “1” only once is input from the comparison circuit 15 to the determination circuit 16, it is determined to be a genuine coin.
[0010]
The tolerance N may be specified separately for an upper limit width N _H and a lower limit width N _L for the center value M for each denomination. In this case, the output of the comparison circuit 15 is “1” when (M−N _L ) ≦ A ≦ (M + N _H ), and “0” when A <(M−N _L ) or (M + N _H ) <A. It becomes.
FIG. 7 shows an arrangement example of coin sorting sensors in a conventional actual coin sorting apparatus. That is, a material sensor S1, an outer diameter sensor S2, and a plate thickness sensor S3 are provided along the coin passage 2 where the coin rolls, and each of the sensors S1 to S3 is provided with a circuit similar to FIG. Each of the sensors S1 to S3 is incorporated in place of the coin sorting sensor S in a circuit similar to FIG. 10 corresponding to the sensor.
[0011]
Then, the peak value of the waveform data of the coin characteristics (that is, the output of the A / D converter 13) obtained through the material sensor S1, the outer diameter sensor S2, and the plate thickness sensor S3 is used as the material and outer diameter of the coin. , As a characteristic value of the plate thickness, and if the peak value of each detected characteristic value is within a predetermined range corresponding to a coin of a certain denomination, as in the case of the coin sorting sensor S, It was judged to be a kind of specie.
[0012]
8 is a perspective view showing one of the pot cores S3P paired with the coin passage 2 in particular, in the plate thickness sensor S3 of FIG. 7, and 31 forms a part of the pot core S3P integrally formed as a whole. A cylindrical magnetic pole portion, 32 is a circular magnetic pole surface serving as an end surface of the magnetic pole portion 31 on the pot core opening surface side, and 33 is a cylindrical outer wall forming a part of the pot core S3P.
[0013]
A coil (not shown) for energizing the magnetic pole part 31 is accommodated in a space between the magnetic pole part 31 and the outer wall 33. The pair of pot cores S3P are arranged so that their magnetic pole faces 32 face each other with the coin passage 2 in between.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional coin sorting apparatus, a modified coin obtained by processing the outer diameter or thickness of a foreign currency may be determined as a Japanese genuine coin, and the modified coin may be illegally used.
An object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorting device that can correctly sort such altered coins as fake coins.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the coin sorting device according to claim 1 is:
A plurality of sensors (material sensor S1, outer diameter sensor S2, plate thickness sensor S30, etc.) that use an oscillator (OSC) as a power source are arranged along the coin path (2) (detection circuits 101-103, rectifier circuits 121- 123, via the A / D converters 131 to 133, the determination means 161 to 164, the total authenticity determination means 200, etc.) and the signal waveform obtained from each of the sensors as the coin (3) passes through the coin path. A coin sorting device for determining the authenticity of the coin from
At least one of the sensors (S30, etc., hereinafter referred to as a specific sensor) is at least connected to a plane passing through the center between both side surfaces of the coin passage (hereinafter referred to as a passage center plane) while sandwiching the coin passage. In the vicinity of the central plane, it has a symmetrical iron core and a pair of iron cores.
Each of the pair of iron cores has a rectangular magnetic pole surface (302A, 302B) having a short side and a long side that are substantially parallel to the channel central surface and parallel to the channel central surface, and having a predetermined long side and an end surface. It has two magnetic pole parts (301A, 301B) of substantially the same shape in the shape of a prism extending perpendicularly to the center surface of the passage and toward the center surface side of the passage.
The two magnetic pole portions have their end faces included in substantially the same plane, the long sides of the rectangles of the end faces are orthogonal to the direction of coin movement, and the long sides are parallel to each other with a predetermined gap. And the coils (305a to 305a) that use the oscillator as a power source so that the magnetic pole surfaces of the two magnetic pole portions have different polarities from each other and have the same polarity between the pair of magnetic pole faces facing each other across the coin passage. 305d),
Furthermore, magnetic shielding means (such as an outer wall 303) is provided for each of the pair of iron cores and prevents magnetic flux entering and exiting the iron core from interfering with at least an adjacent sensor based on the bias of the coil. Shall.
[0016]
The coin sorting device according to claim 2 is the coin sorting device according to claim 1,
The predetermined gap between the long sides of the rectangle is included in 1 mm to 3 mm.
The coin sorting device according to claim 3 is the coin sorting device according to claim 1 or 2,
The length of the short side of the rectangle is included in 1 mm to 3 mm.
[0017]
The coin sorting device according to claim 4 is the coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The length of the long side of the rectangle is 3 mm or more.
A coin sorting device according to claim 5 is the coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each of the pair of iron cores and the magnetic shielding means corresponding to each of the iron cores are configured integrally with a pot core (S30P).
[0018]
A coin sorting device according to claim 6 is the coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A signal obtained by sampling a predetermined time interval (for example, 1 mS) for a signal region equal to or higher than a predetermined level (reference level LVS) in a signal waveform obtained from the specific sensor as the coin passes through the coin passage. A time-series data string indicating the size is equally divided into a predetermined first plurality of (n) sections, and representative values (boundary values, average values, maximum values of the sections) of the equally divided sections. Value or minimum value of X ₁ , X ₂ ,... X _n-1 ) at least a representative value (for example, X _m−1 , X _m , X _It is assumed that there is provided true / false determining means (unevenness determining means 164) for determining the authenticity of the coin using _{m + 1} ).
[0019]
Summarizing the operation of the present invention, the structure of the thickness sensor is changed so that not only the thickness of the coin but also the unevenness of the surface of the coin can be detected with high accuracy, and it becomes easy to eliminate the modified coins processed from foreign coins. Is.
In other words, each of the two magnetic pole portions has an outer wall and two rectangular columnar magnetic pole portions each having a substantially rectangular magnetic pole face as an end face and arranged in parallel with the long sides of the rectangular face of the magnetic pole face in parallel. The pot cores excited so that the surfaces have different polarities are arranged on both sides of the coin passage so that the two magnetic poles of the pot core on one side and the two magnetic poles of the opposite pot core face each other with the same polarity. (In other words, the pot core coils that are paired across the coin passage are connected in reverse phase), and the rectangular side of the magnetic pole face is arranged so that it is perpendicular to the direction of coin movement, and the plate thickness sensor is Constitute.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic arrangement of the entire sensor portion of the coin sorting device of the present invention. Also in the coin sorting device of the present invention, sensors for detecting the material, outer diameter, and plate thickness of the inserted coins are arranged along the coin passage 2 where the inserted coins roll as in FIG.
[0021]
Here, the material sensor S1 and the outer diameter sensor S2 are the same as those shown in FIG. 7, but the plate thickness sensor is a square plate thickness sensor that can detect irregularities on the surface of the coin in addition to the plate thickness with high accuracy. It is replaced with S30.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the entire sensor portion viewed from above the coin passage 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion of the plate thickness sensor S30 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B of the plate thickness sensor S30 with respect to the traveling direction of the coin 3 rolling down the coin passage 2. Show.
[0022]
4 shows a detailed configuration of the plate thickness sensor S30, FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the shape of the pot core S30P of the plate thickness sensor S30, and FIG. 4C is a plate thickness viewed from above the coin passage 2. FIG. The sectional view of the sensor S30, FIGS. (B) and (D) are views in which one side of the paired plate thickness sensor S30 is viewed in the directions of arrows P and Q in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the pot core S30P of the plate thickness sensor S30 includes two magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B and an outer wall 303 surrounding the two magnetic pole portions.
[0023]
The two magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B are formed in a prismatic shape having a predetermined substantially rectangular end surface, and the side surfaces corresponding to the long sides of the rectangle are arranged in parallel with a predetermined gap therebetween. .
The outer wall 303 of the pot core S30P prevents the magnetic flux entering and exiting the magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B from flowing out of the outer wall 303 and affecting the adjacent sensor, in this example, the outer diameter sensor S2. Has the role of improving the accuracy of money.
[0024]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4C, the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B of the magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B and the end surface on the pot core open surface side of the outer wall 303 are included in almost one plane, and the magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B. A portion of the outer wall 303 corresponding to the end surface on the non-open surface side of the pot core is integrally coupled to the bottom surface portion 304 of the pot core.
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, coils 305a and 305b are respectively wound around the magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B of one pair of pot cores S30P, and the magnetic pole portions of the other pot core S30P. Coils 305c and 305d are wound around 301A and 301B, respectively. In this example, as shown in FIG. 5 described later, coils 305a and 305b and 305c and 305d are connected in series, and series coils 305a and 305b and series coils 305c and 305d are also connected in series.
[0026]
4 (B) and FIG. 4 (D) indicate the direction of the high-frequency current flowing through the coils 305a to 305d at the same point in time using the oscillator OSC as a power source. Dotted arrows indicate the direction of the magnetic flux φ entering and exiting between the magnetic pole faces 302A and 302B of the two pot cores S30P at this point.
As apparent from FIG. 4C, the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B in the same pot core S30P have different polarities, and the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B facing each other across the coin passage 2 of the pair of pot cores S30P are The magnetic pole portions 301A and 301B are excited so as to have the same polarity.
[0027]
In other words, the series coils 305a, 305b and 305c, 305d of the pair of pot cores S30P are connected in reverse phase.
As shown in FIG. 3, the plate thickness sensor S 30 is arranged such that the long sides of the substantially rectangular magnetic pole surfaces 302 A and 302 B of the pot core S 30 P are orthogonal to the traveling direction of the coin 3.
[0028]
The arrangement, shape, and dimensions of the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B are important for improving the accuracy of detecting the unevenness of the coins. For example, the clearance between the magnetic pole surfaces 302A and 302B in the coin advancing direction is 1 to 3 mm, The length of the short side of the rectangle of the surface is preferably 1 to 3 mm, and the length of the long side of the rectangle of the pole surface is preferably 3 mm or more.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the control circuit of the coin sorting device of the present invention. In the figure, a material sensor S1 composed of coils S1a and S1b connected in phase with a coin passage 2 in between is connected to a detection circuit 101, the output of the detection circuit 101 is rectified by a rectifier circuit 121, and further an A / D converter 131. Is converted into a digital value and input to the material determination means 161.
[0030]
Similarly, an outer diameter sensor S2 composed of coils S2a and S2b connected in phase across the coin path 2 is connected to the detection circuit 102, and the output of the detection circuit 102 is rectified by a rectifier circuit 122, and further by an A / D converter 132. It is converted into a digital value and input to the outer diameter determination means 162.
Also, the plate thickness sensor S30 in which the series-connected coils 305a, 305b and 305c, 305d described in FIG. 4 are connected in reverse phase across the coin path 2 is also connected to the detection circuit 103 in the same manner, and the output of the detection circuit 103 Is rectified by the rectifier circuit 123 and further converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 133. The digital output of the A / D converter 133 is input to the plate thickness determining means 163, and the unevenness determining means 164 Is also entered.
[0031]
And the determination result of each determination means 161-164 is input into the comprehensive authenticity determination means 200, and the authenticity of the said inserted coin is finally determined.
Here, each of the detection circuits 101, 102, 103 has the same configuration as the circuit in which only the coin sorting sensor S is removed from the circuit comprising the bridge circuit 10, the oscillator OSC, and the differential amplifier circuit 11 of FIG. A material sensor S1, an outer diameter sensor S2, and a plate thickness sensor S30 are connected to the constituent circuits in the form of replacing the coin sorting sensor S, respectively.
[0032]
The rectifier circuits 121, 122, and 123 all correspond to the rectifier circuit 12 in FIG. 10, and the A / D converters 131, 132, and 133 all correspond to the A / D converter 13 in FIG.
Further, the material determining means 161, the outer diameter determining means 162, and the plate thickness determining means 163 are all circuits comprising the difference detection circuit 14, the comparison circuit 15, the determination circuit 16, the center value memory 17, and the tolerance memory 18 of FIG. It has a similar configuration.
[0033]
With such a configuration, the material determination means 161 has the waveform data from the material sensor S1, which is the output of the A / D converter 131, that is, the peak value of the detection characteristic value of the material of the coin in FIG. Similar to the above, for each denomination, it is checked whether or not it is within the predetermined upper and lower limit range of the denomination, with the center value M determined by denomination for each coin sorting device, and the peak value is the upper and lower limit If a denomination within the width exists, it is true. If not, a false provisional judgment signal is output.
[0034]
Similarly, the outer diameter determination means 162 is also related to the outer diameter of the waveform data from the outer diameter sensor S2, which is the output of the A / D converter 132, that is, the peak value of the detected characteristic value of the coin, and the coin selection. Check for each denomination whether the denomination is within the predetermined upper and lower limits of the denomination with the center value M determined by denomination for each device, and false if the denomination exists, false A temporary determination signal is output.
[0035]
Similarly, the plate thickness determination means 163 also has a waveform data from the plate thickness sensor S30 which is an output of the A / D converter 133, that is, the peak value of the detection characteristic value of the plate thickness of the coin is related to the plate thickness and the coin. Check whether each denomination is within the specified upper and lower limits of the denomination with a center value M determined by denomination for each sorting device, and true if the denomination exists, false if not The temporary determination signal is output.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the unevenness determining means 164 will be described. The operation of the unevenness determining means 164 is the same as the operation of the pattern determining means described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-167310, which is a prior application of the present applicant.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing time-series waveform data obtained from the plate thickness sensor S30 for the inserted coin. That is, in the figure, the horizontal axis indicates time t,
The vertical axis represents the digital conversion value X of the detected waveform from the plate thickness sensor S30 output from the A / D converter 133.
[0037]
In the example of FIG. 6, the waveform obtained from the plate thickness sensor S30 is sampled by the AD converter 133 at an interval of about 1 mS, and the unevenness determining means 164 indicates that the digital conversion value X as the sampling value is a one-dot chain line on the figure. Each sampling value is sequentially stored in a memory (not shown) from the time when the predetermined level LVS is exceeded to the time when the level becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined level LVS.
[0038]
The unevenness determining means 164 equally divides the section of the sampling data string arranged in chronological order obtained when the sampling is finished into n parts, and represents a representative value (boundary value in this example) X of the data for each of the divided sections. ₁ , X ₂ ,..., X _n−1 are obtained.
The unevenness determining means 164 calculates a characteristic value Z represented by the following equation (1) based on this representative value.
[0039]
[Expression 1]
Z = A ₁ · X ₁ + A ₂ · X ₂ + ... + A _n-1 · X _n-1 (1)
Where the data representative value X _1, X _2, ···, the weighting factors A _1, A ₂ corresponding to each of _{X n-1, ···, A} n-1 is likely to leave the features characteristic value Z It is a constant.
[0040]
For example, from the representative values X ₁ , X ₂ ,..., X _n−1 shown in FIG. 6, the weighting factors A _m−1 = 1, A _m = −2, A _{m + 1} = 1, and other weights If the coefficient A _i = 0 (however, i = 1, 2,..., N−1 excluding m−1, m, m + 1), the characteristic value Z represented by the following equation (2) is obtained. From this equation (2), the size of the unevenness at the center of the coin can be obtained.
[0041]
[Expression 2]
Z = X _m-1 -2X _m + X _{m + 1} (2)
In this example, the boundary value of the data section divided into n is used as the representative value, but the average value, maximum value, or minimum value of the sampling data for each of the n sections may be used as the representative value.
[0042]
As described in FIG. 11, the unevenness determining means 164 has the characteristic value Z of the money type that is related to the characteristic value Z and sandwiches the central value M determined for the money type for each coin sorting device. It is examined for each denomination whether it is within a predetermined upper and lower limit range.
If a denomination whose characteristic value Z is within this upper and lower limit range is present, a false provisional determination signal is output.
[0043]
The comprehensive determination means 200 combines the true and false temporary determination signals of the material determination means 161, the outer diameter determination means 162, the plate thickness determination means 163, and the unevenness determination means 164, and all the temporary determination signals of the determination means 161 to 164 are obtained. When there is a denomination that is true, the input coin is determined to be a genuine denomination.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an electronic system is used in which a plurality of sensors are arranged along a coin path, and the authenticity of the coin is determined from signal waveforms obtained from the sensors as the coin passes through the coin path. In the coin sorting device,
Each of the two magnetic pole faces has an outer wall and two prismatic magnetic pole portions each having a substantially rectangular magnetic pole face as an end face and arranged in parallel with the rectangular long side of the magnetic pole face. Pot cores excited so as to have different polarities are arranged on both sides of the coin path so that the two magnetic poles of the pot core on one side and the two magnetic poles of the opposite pot core face each other with the same polarity, and Since the rectangular long side of the magnetic pole surface is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the coin traveling direction, the plate thickness sensor is configured.
This plate thickness sensor can detect not only the plate thickness of coins but also the irregularities on the surface of the coins with high accuracy, and can easily eliminate foreign coins that are close to the true coins.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a principle structure of a principal part of a coin sorting device as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a sensor portion viewed from above a coin passage in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a plate thickness sensor as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a conventional apparatus. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pot core of a conventional plate thickness sensor. FIG. 9 is a sensor portion of FIG. FIG. 10 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of a conventional apparatus. FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin slot 2 Coin path 3 Coin 4 Gate 5 Genuine coin path 6 Return path 10 Bridge circuit 11 Differential amplifier circuit OSC Oscillator S1 Material sensor S2 Outer diameter sensor S30 Plate thickness sensor S30P Pot cores 101-103 Detection circuits 121-123 Rectification Circuits 131 to 133 A / D converter 161 Material determination means 162 Outer diameter determination means 163 Plate thickness determination means 164 Concavity and convexity determination means 200 Total authenticity determination means 301A, 301B Magnetic pole portion 302A, 302B Magnetic pole surface 303 Outer wall 304 Bottom surface portion 305a 305d coil

Claims

A coin sorting device that arranges a plurality of sensors that use an oscillator as a power source along a coin path and determines the authenticity of the coin from the signal waveform obtained from each sensor as the coin passes through the coin path. There,
At least one of the sensors (hereinafter referred to as a specific sensor) sandwiches the coin passage and sandwiches the coin passage with respect to a plane passing through the center between both side surfaces of the coin passage (hereinafter referred to as a passage central surface). In the vicinity, it has a pair of iron cores with a plane-symmetric structure,
Each of the pair of iron cores faces the passage center surface side, is parallel to the passage center surface, has a rectangular magnetic pole surface having a short side and a long side of a predetermined length as an end surface, and is perpendicular to the passage center surface. The two magnetic pole parts of the substantially same shape of a prism that extends to the center surface side of the anti-passage,
The two magnetic pole portions have their end faces included in substantially the same plane, the long sides of the rectangles of the end faces are orthogonal to the direction of coin movement, and the long sides are parallel to each other with a predetermined gap. The magnetic pole surfaces of the two magnetic pole portions are different in polarity from each other, and are energized by a coil using the oscillator as a power source so as to have the same polarity between the opposing magnetic pole surfaces across the coin passage. And
Further, magnetic shielding means is provided for each of the pair of iron cores and for preventing magnetic flux entering and exiting the iron core from interfering with at least an adjacent sensor based on the bias of the coil. Coin sorting device.

The coin sorting device according to claim 1,
The coin sorting device, wherein a predetermined gap between long sides of the rectangle is included in 1 mm to 3 mm.

In the coin sorting device according to claim 1 or 2,
The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of a short side of the rectangle is included in 1 mm to 3 mm.

In the coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A coin sorting device characterized in that the long side of the rectangle has a length of 3 mm or more.

The coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each of the pair of iron cores and the magnetic shielding means corresponding to each of the iron cores are configured integrally with a pot core, respectively.

The coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A time-series data string indicating the magnitude of a signal obtained by sampling at a predetermined time interval for a signal region of a predetermined level or higher in a signal waveform obtained from the specific sensor as the coin passes through the coin passage. Is divided into a plurality of predetermined first sections, and among the representative values of the data for each of the equally divided sections, at least the representative values of the data of the predetermined second plurality of sections are used. A coin sorting device comprising a true / false determining means for determining the authenticity of a coin.