JPS61194591A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a coin processing device used in public telephones and various other types of vending machines, and in particular, the present invention relates to a coin processing device for use in public telephones and other various types of vending machines. The present invention relates to a coin processing device that distributes coins to individual tracks based on the results of sorting.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of coin processing device, a timer system (Special Publication No. 57-52634) or 2-sensor system
No. 54824), a method for preventing continuous coin insertion has been devised. In other words, in both of these methods, when continuous insertion within a certain interval is detected, even if the preceding coin is a genuine coin,
In order to prevent subsequent coins from being distributed at the same time during the distribution operation of the coin, both coins are returned.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, when coins are inserted successively, the user holds multiple coins in one hand and inserts them by continuously moving their fingers, so the user consciously or unconsciously inserts coins of the same diameter. Very often, coins of the same thickness and type are inserted, and in this case all the coins inserted in a series are returned, which is inconvenient for the user. If you hear a reminder tone and insert multiple low-denomination coins in succession, all of the coins are returned, resulting in a forced disconnection of the call.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve such problems, the present invention provides a means for determining whether or not two consecutive coins are within a certain interval, as well as a method for determining whether or not both coins are of the same type. Means is provided, and only when the coins are of the same type based on the determination results of both determination means, both coins are distributed into trajectories corresponding to the type in one distribution operation.

[Effect]

Even if the coins are allotted to the same trajectory in one operation, there is no problem since the coins are of the same type, and on the other hand, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of having all the coins that have been put in returned.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a central power supply type public telephone.

In the same figure, LA and LB are line terminals to which lines from the station are connected.
It arrives as a 6kHz signal. G is a ground terminal.

Further, 10 is a main unit including a telephone call circuit, 20 is a handset, 30 is a keyboard including dial keys in a 3×4 matrix configuration, 40 is a display circuit equipped with a light emitting diode, and 50 is a coin processing unit for inserting and passing coins. - Optical sensor 51 for detecting accumulation, etc.; coil sensor 52 for sorting the tangent and type of coins inserted; magnet 53 for moving the lever for coin accumulation/storage, etc.
It is equipped with

By the way, when the shift switch 101 sends out an output indicating off-hook due to the operation of the handset 20, the start circuit 102 responds to this and drives the GS relay 103. As a result, the GSIJ relay contact 104 is closed and the charge signal is output. The communication circuit 107 is connected to the line terminal LA' through the receiving circuit 105, diode bridge, and power unit 106.
, LB, and closes a DC loop to the line to enable telephone communication using the handset 20. kOh, the power unit uses the line current flowing as the DC loop closes to generate a local power supply voltage and supply it to each part,
Even during the hookup, that is, while the DC loop is open, the capacitor is charged by flowing an N current through the loop indicated by the arrow A in the figure through a high resistance (not shown) to the extent that the exchange does not respond. The diode 1 bridge is used to keep the polarity of the line current supplied to this power unit constant. In addition, Q+ is a transistor for sending dial pulses, Q2 is a transistor for shorting the communication circuit 107 while sending dial pulses, and □ is a transistor for short-circuiting the communication circuit 107.
is a tone generator, which outputs a reminder tone to the handset of the handset 0 through the telephone communication circuit 107 to prompt the user to insert additional coins when the accumulated coins are insufficient. This tone generator 10B, like the keyboard 30, display circuit 40, coin processing unit 50, etc., is operated by a processor unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) 109 such as a well-known microprocessor.
1. The start circuit 102 described above is also directly controlled by the output of the hook switch 101, and is also controlled by the output of the hook switch 101.
It is also controlled by the PU 109. Further, 112 is a fixed memory (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) and a variable memory (hereinafter abbreviated as RAM) that store programs and other fixed data.
113 is a bus that connects the CPU 109, input/output boards 110, 111, and memory 112. In the coin processing unit 50, 54 and 55 are variable memories for outputting data to the optical processor 51 and the magnet 52□ via the input/output boat 111, respectively.
Reference numeral 56 is a memory in which sorting data that differs depending on the specifications of each telephone, specifically the type of coin used, is stored in advance, and from the comparison output of the output of the coil sensor 52 and this sorting data,
The tangent and type of the inserted coin are determined.

These sensors and magnets are arranged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the entire trajectory, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement inside an actual telephone. Coins inserted through the input port 501 are sorted by a thickness sorter 502 that mechanically sorts the thickness of the coin, and coil sensors 521, 522, and 523 for material, thickness, and diameter. Then, depending on the result, the storage levers 507a to 507a are activated by the storage magnets) 531a to 531C.
507e is disturbed, and the coins are distributed to each of the accumulation orbits 5041 to 504C. Each accumulation lever 507
A to 507C are two levers: one that always protrudes into the track and prevents entry into the storage track, and the other lever that does not normally appear in the track and forms a direct path to the return port 506.
The levers in each set 9 operate in conjunction.

Thereafter, if there are coins to be stored according to the call rate, the storage levers 508a to 508c are driven by the corresponding storage magnets 533a to 533C, and the coins are stored in the safe 505. Although not shown in the figure, a stopper is provided in front of the storage lever so that the storage levers can be stored one by one. On the other hand, since the storage magnet does not operate, the counterfeit coins are directly returned to the return port 506, and the coins remaining after the settlement after the end of the call are returned all at once by the return prevention magnet 532 by moving a return prevention flapper (not shown). Ru. Also, the flapper 503 is mechanically opened when on-hook, and the coins on the trajectory in this section are returned. Note that 509 is a converter for converting the analog output of the sensor into digital data, and 510 is a counter.These output signals MS, GS, and DS, which have an 8-bit configuration and a 4-bit configuration, respectively, are sent to the input/output port 1.
11 to the main unit (10). In addition, an insertion detection sensor 511, a passage detection sensor 512, an accumulation detection sensor 513a to 513e, a storage detection sensor 514, and a return detection sensor 515 are optical sensors arranged at various places on the track to detect the passage of coins. CRI～C
R3, CA, CB are the output signals of each of these optical sensors,
On the other hand, SMI 1-5Ml3, RMON and RM
OF, CM11 to CMI3 are control signals for each magnet sent from the CPU 109 via the input/output port 111.

Therefore, the control operation by the CPU 109 will be explained next, but the following explanation will be limited to the scope necessary for understanding the present invention, and parts not directly related to the features of the present invention will be omitted as appropriate. This also applies to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main processing program executed by the CPU 109. In the figure, when the DC loop is closed due to off-hook as described above, and the power supply voltage reaches the specified value and the power-on reset is canceled, the CPU 109 performs initialization processing (step 210) and stores the RAM. Each register and the buffer register 'S of the input/output port are initialized, and at the final stage, interrupts are enabled.

That is, in this embodiment, in addition to this main processing program, there is an interrupt processing program as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the main processing is interrupted and interrupt processing is executed at fixed intervals, for example, every 4 ms.

First, the main process will be explained. After initialization, the CPU 109 performs a self-diagnosis process (step 220) to check for any malfunctions such as coin jams, etc., and if there is no abnormality, performs a usage permission process (step 23).
0). This allows dialing if a coin (of course, a specified genuine coin) is inserted. Next, dial control processing is performed (step 240). This is to check special dial numbers from the first to third digits. For example, if the first and second digits are %00/
/, it is determined that it is an international call and the RAM of memory 112 is
A mode flag is set in a predetermined area inside. In addition, mode flags are set for various types of prohibited dials and toll-free dials. Next, the process moves to coin storage determination processing (step 250). This is a step of determining whether coin storage is necessary, the amount, etc. in accordance with the billing signal and the accumulated coins.In the above-mentioned free mode, of course, it is determined that coin storage is unnecessary. Next, C.P.
U 109 accesses a predetermined area in the RAM, confirms that the hook flag is not set (step 260), and then proceeds to coin storage processing (step 270).
. A predetermined storage magnet in the coin processing unit 50 is operated to move a corresponding storage lever, thereby opening a passage from the storage track to the safe. On the other hand, if the shift flag is set due to on-hook or the occurrence of some forced disconnection event, for example, in the prohibited mode, the program execution immediately shifts from step 270 to hook processing (step 280), 800 m.
For 5 days, the DC loop will be opened to restore the exchange, and the remaining coins will be returned.

On the other hand, when an interrupt occurs, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 109 first performs a shutdown to save the data used in the main processing up to that point to another memory area (step 310). Input sensor processing is performed (step 32o).

Here, the coin processing unit 50 is connected via an input/output boat.
All inputs from the sensors, the start circuit 102, the keyboard 30, etc. are checked, and the results are stored in predetermined areas of the memory 1120, respectively. Next, in coin processing (step 330), the inserted coins are sorted,
Based on this, the amount of unused coins is registered, etc. Among the coin processing, especially the coin passage detection processing is unique to the present invention, and will be described in detail later. Next, the process moves to timer processing (step 340).
Here, various so-called soft timers are counted up, and when each timer times up, an end flag is set for each timer. Further, for example, the above-mentioned storage magnet is restored after 500 mg has elapsed since it was activated, but the operation time of each magnet is measured and the restoration after time-up is also performed here. After that, perform a pop-up to recall each data that was evacuated (
Step 350), after performing interrupt permission processing (step 360), the main processing is completed.

Next, the above-mentioned coin passage detection process will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, this processing program is executed when there is a detection output from the passage detection sensor 512.
109 turns off the power to each sorting sensor that was turned on when the insertion detection sensor 511 detects the insertion of a coin (step 3301), and resets the sorting permission flag (step 3302).

This flag indicates whether the sorting process is possible or not, and is provided using a register consisting of a predetermined area of RAM in the memory 113 like other various registers. By doing so, screening is not allowed,
ttb indicates that the subsequent coins will not be sorted during that time, but by resetting the amount at this point, the subsequent coins are allowed to be sorted. Next, "1" is subtracted from the contents of the C3-CD coin register (step 3303). The register is equipped with a loading detection sensor 511 for accurate sorting.
This is for managing the number of coins present between the pass detection sensor 512 and the passage detection sensor 512, and "1" is added when insertion is detected. In other words,
As a result of this subtraction process, if the contents of the register do not become "0", it means that there is already a subsequent coin, and two coins inserted extremely close together will work together to accurately calculate the value. Since sorting cannot be expected, both coins will be returned in this case.

Therefore, if the content of the register becomes "0" (step 3304), check whether the coin is genuine or not (step 3305). If it is genuine, the coin is sent to the passage detection sensor 512 and returned. The content of the CD-CB coin register that manages the number of coins between the detection sensors 515 is “0”.
” (step 3306)
. That is, the contents of this CD-CB coin register are incremented by "1" when it is determined that the inserted coins should be returned without being accumulated, and "1" is subtracted when the return is confirmed by the return detection unit 515. However, if the content is "0", that is, the return of the preceding coin has not been completed, in order to avoid accumulating the preceding coin by mistake, even if the coin is determined to be genuine, it will not be returned. It is assumed that it should be returned.

Therefore, only when the content of the register is "0", the CPU 109 next controls the C
It is checked whether the contents of the D-CR coin register are rOJ (step 3307). In other words, this CD
-The contents of the CR coin register are incremented by 1 when the storage magnet is operated to accumulate the coins.
When accumulation is detected, "1" is subtracted and the content is not "0", which means that subsequent coins have been accumulated continuously even though there is a preceding coin that is still being accumulated. Indicate what you are trying to do. In such cases, conventionally both coins were returned regardless of their type, but
In this embodiment, it is checked whether both coins are of the same type (step 3308), and only if they are the same type, the condition is that the corresponding accumulation trajectory does not overflow due to the accumulation of the coins (step 3309). ),
Activate the corresponding storage magnet (step 331
0) , accumulate the coin with the preceding coin. In addition,
An accumulation counter is provided in a predetermined area in the memory 113, and the counted value is set as
1", in the case of continuous insertion of the same kind of coins as mentioned above, "
The accumulated number is checked by adding 2'' in increments and subtracting it at the time of storage, and whether or not the accumulation operation causes geo-bar flow is determined by the count value of this counter and the maximum accumulation of the accumulation trajectory. This can be determined based on the allowable number of sheets.

After that, the CPU 109 starts the accumulation overtimer (step 3311), but this is only to specify the maximum allowable range of the operation time of the accumulation magnet. At that point, even if this confirmation cannot be obtained, the timer is restored when the timer time of the above-mentioned timer, in this embodiment, 10100O has elapsed.

Next, the CPU 109 adds "1" to the contents of the CD-CR coin register described above (step 3312), and ends the coin passage detection process.

On the other hand, if the above-mentioned conditions are not satisfied, "1" is added to the contents of the above-mentioned CD-CB coin register (step 3313), and this coin passage detection process is ended.

Even when three or more coins of the same type are continuously inserted, each two adjacent coins are focused on and if they are within a certain interval, they are not returned and are continuously accumulated in a predetermined accumulation trajectory.

Note that the technology for managing inserted coins between two sensors, such as an insertion detection sensor and a passage detection sensor, a passage detection sensor and an accumulation detection sensor, or a return detection sensor, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-35073 (Japanese Patent Application No. 53-163133). This is disclosed in detail in the following issue.

In the embodiment described above, two sensors for passage detection and accumulation detection are used as means for determining whether two consecutive coins are within a certain interval, but the characteristics and positions of the sensors are limited to this. However, instead of using this two-sensor method, a timer method may be used to determine whether or not both coins are within a certain distance.

In addition, although the case where the present invention is used in a public telephone has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be similarly applied to various devices that are used by inserting coins, such as various vending machines and game machines. . Furthermore, the coin referred to herein is not necessarily limited to a coin as currency, but may also be a coin-shaped disk etc. used in a game machine, etc., and the present invention is equally applicable to such cases. It is possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, means for determining whether two consecutive coins are within a certain interval, and means for determining whether or not both coins are of the same type are provided. Only in the case of different types, by making it possible to allocate both coins within a certain interval to the corresponding orbit by one movement, all the multiple coins of the same type that were inserted were returned, unlike in the past. This has the advantage of avoiding inconveniences such as storage, improving service to users and improving operating rates.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of a coin trajectory, Fig. 3 is a sensor arrangement diagram, and Fig. 4 is a C
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a main processing program in the PU, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an interrupt processing program, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a coin passage detection processing program. 10... Main unit, 50... O coin processing unit, 51... Optical sensor, 52... Sorting coil sensor, 53... Magnet, 109... CP
'[J, 110, 111... input/output capo), 1
12...Memory, 113...Bus, 501...
・Installation entrance, 504a to 504C...Storage track, 5
06...Return port, 50? 'a~507c... Φ accumulation lever, 511... Closing detection sensor, 512--
--Passage detection sensor, 513a to 513c --... Accumulation detection sensor, 521... Material sensor, 522...
φ/Thickness sensor, 523...Diameter sensor, 531a
~531C...Storage magnet, 532...Return prevention magnet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A coin processing system configured to sort multiple types of coins inserted through a common input slot into individual tracks according to the results of electrical sorting, and to return one or both of the coins that are consecutively inserted within a certain interval. In the apparatus, an interval determining means determines whether two consecutive coins determined to be genuine coins are within the predetermined interval;
type determination means for determining whether two coins are of the same type, and only when coins of the same type are continuously inserted within a certain interval based on the determination results of both determination means, both coins are sorted once. A coin processing device characterized in that the coins are sorted into corresponding individual orbits.